Renovation of Bradley Symphony Center, the Milwaukee Symphony’s concert hall and offices, is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.
“The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s transformation of the former Warner Grand Theater … into its new concert hall and headquarters has been a long road,” writes Bobby Tanzilo in Tuesday’s (11/17) OnMilwaukee magazine. “Though the timeline for completion of the Bradley Symphony Center has shifted for a variety of reasons, including most recently basement water damage, the work is now nearly done and MSO Operations Director John Roloff expects that the city will inspect the building and issue an occupancy permit before we next sing ‘Auld Lang Syne.’ … ‘It’ll be ready to be used long before COVID is ready for it to be used,’ says Roloff. While the 2021 MSO in-person season has been canceled … MSO will host a 16-performance classical and pops virtual season, beginning in January…. The theater … is greatly expanded from the previous stage footprint, which was too small to fit a symphony orchestra and for the proper acoustics…. The stage itself has three sections, two of which can be raised and lowered…. A raised U-shaped ‘Choral Terrace’ sits above the stage … providing performance space for a chorus [and] a few rows of seating … that will offer an unrivaled view of the orchestra and especially the conductor.”
