One Symphony Place
Last Saturday evening I took advantage of the 2nd annual "Free Day of Music" to check out the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. I used to go see the Nashville Symphony once or twice a year, but my free ticket gravy train dried up not long after I graduated from college and my parent's gave up their ticket subscription. As such, I hadn't seen the Symphony play since the namesake of the new concert hall was still swinging the baton at TPAC. I've heard nothing but rave reviews about the place, so I figured it time to check it out for myself.
The Symphony's hour long program that night basically was a promotion for their concert series, featuring excerpts from composers who are being featured during the 2006-2007 season. Honestly I don't remember many of the particulars, other than they played a bit from Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty, a medley from The Sound Of Music to promote their Pops Series, a suite by Aaron Copland that reminded me how much I like his music, and gave me an idea for next year's Father's day present (my dad first introduced me to the American composer).
The main reason I went down there though was just to check out the building, and it didn't fail to impress. The neoclassical exterior is beautiful, and the sets a great first impression for an evening of "highbrow" music. About the only bad thing I can say about it visually is that the chandeliers, which look great lit up, are kinda bizarre once the lights dim. But the most impressive thing about it is that the Laura Turner Concert Hall sounds AMAZING. Even the most casual listener will appreciate the hall's acoustics. It's great that after spending so many year's raising the Symphony's profile, Maestro Schermerhorn will forever be associated with such a first class music facility.
If you'd like to check out the building without buying a ticket for a performance, free tours are offered on Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays and Saturdays at 1 pm. Even if you're not into classical music, it's worth a look.
