Monday, August 22, 2011

VIEW TO A.. FRILL


NEW SHEERS


Construction of the new 823-seat concert venue was funded by donations from the Edmond-based Philadelphia Church of God. The church has its offices on the campus of the Herbert W. Armstrong College in north Edmond.SHUTTERSThe Armstrong International Cultural Foundation was founded in 1996 to carry on the legacy of the Ambassador. A 9-foot Hamburg Steinway concert grand piano and two Baccarat crystal candelabra that once adorned the Ambassador are now housed at the new Armstrong Auditorium.Frosted detail window FB84 from pounds 25 (www.windowfilm.co.uk, 01494 794477)Beyond this, the Colon has a wider role to play in a plan to recast and civilise Plaza Lavalle, currently not the most prepossessing of the city's many squares. A new open space is planned to adjoin the north side of the theatre, linking the main drag of Avenida de 9 Julio more explicitly with the Plaza Lavalle, and creating a forum for social and performance activities. And though such a lavishly funded restoration will inevitably attract a degree of carping, it seems appropriate that a building which has been such a resonant part of Buenos Aires' history can now find a new role in the life of the city.Under the direction of architect Daniel Chain, who is also Minister of Urban Development for Buenos Aires, the refurbishment programme involved thousands of specialist craftsmen who gently coaxed life back into the fading historic fabric. Despite its importance to the city, the years had not been kind to the Colon and there were many issues of neglect and deterioration to address. Now, crowned by Raul Soldi's allegorical ceiling fresco, which has been spruced and restored to resemble a tray of sugared almonds, the auditorium glows with gilding and plushness. The Salon Dorado glisters once again, its mirrored walls set to eavesdrop on a new era of power conversations during performance intervals. And as well as being a revamped and highly photogenic stage set for Buenos Aires society, improved rehearsal and backstage facilities will also enhance the experience of performers.Diffusion3 diamond Roman blind from pounds 45.65 (www.tuiss.co.uk, 0800 862 0466)WINDOW FILMThe Ambassador hosted scores of world-class concerts between 1974 and 1995, including Luciano Pavarotti, Yo-Yo Ma, Placido Domingo, Ray Charles and Ella Fitzgerald. The venue was known among West Coast concert-goers as "the Carnegie Hall of the West."This civic prominence is reinforced by the cherished place it holds in Argentine society. Opera-going is an ingrained aspect of Buenos Aires life, cementing the connection with Old World, European culture and providing a dazzling setting in which to see and be seen. With its famous Salon Dorado (Gold Room) and cascading staircases, the Colon boasts a set of gilded and mirrored promenading spaces to rival the Paris Opera. The original auditorium even had eight boxes with metal grilles and a separate entrance, so that those in mourning could still attend performances, but remain dignifiedly sequestered from public view. During the 1930s the Colon became an important setting for 'marriage fairs', where wealthy families would congregate in its stalls to discuss matchmaking for mutual social advancement.Sailaway roller blind from pounds 43 (www.hillarys.co.uk, 0800 916 6524)Superlative acoustics--the horseshoe-shaped theatre is modelled on Milan's La Scala--are matched by the splendour of its interiors. The central chandelier alone has 700 light bulbs. Italian Francesco Tamburini was the original architect, and following his death it was completed with a belle epoque flourish by Belgian Julio Dormal. Beyond the sumptous decor, however, the Colon is also a powerful urban presence, its hulking form occupying an entire city block from Plaza Lavalle through to Avenida 9 de Julio, the axial boulevard that scythes through the heart of Buenos Aires.

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Author: AMY SULEMAN


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