Wednesday (2/1) on the blog Downtown Express (New York), Scott Stiffler writes, “In March of 2011, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s (now in its 37th year) achieved a longstanding goal by opening the DiMenna Center for Classical Music. Located at 450 West 37th Street (in a building that’s also home to the Baryshnikov Arts Center), the 20,000+ square foot facility is New York City’s first space dedicated to classical music rehearsal, recording and education. Not just a home for the OSL, the sprawling complex provides local and touring musicians with low-cost, high-quality performance facilities. It also has a library, a café/lounge, offices, and an instrument storage room. … In just under a year, thousands of chamber groups, orchestras, opera companies, choruses and solo musicians have used the facility—including Iván Fischer, Renée Fleming, Emanuel Ax, Sarah Chang, the New York Philharmonic, Orpheus Chamber Ensemble, New York Youth Symphony, American Ballet Theater, San Francisco Opera and the American Brass Quintet. Film scores and Broadway cast recordings have also been made there. … With its presence on West 37th Street firmly established, the OSL is now able to expand existing community outreach efforts and involve the public in its creative process. … In the coming year, ‘OSL@DMC’ will expand its efforts by offering a musician coaching program, lectures and open rehearsals.” Check out SymphonyNOW’s own video coverage of the DiMenna here.
Posted February 2, 2012
