Yamaha Provides Grand Piano for Innovative Performance Space
BUENA PARK, Calif. Symphony Space fosters artistically and culturally diverse arts, literary and film programs designed to bring artists and audiences together in an atmosphere of exploration and artistic growth. The Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space on 95th and Broadway in New York City offers close to 400 performances each year in its intimate 172-seat theater. A Yamaha S6 concert grand piano has been onstage at the Thalia since just after the newly rebuilt theatre was re-opened in 2001.
"We were looking for a piano placement when the Thalia opened," Ed Budz, director of theatre operations, recalls. "We reached out to Yamaha and were warmly received. We never wanted a 9' grand piano because it would overwhelm our available stage space. The S6 piano is the perfect size instrument for our needs and we're really happy with it," he adds. "We don't have tens of thousands of dollars to purchase a piano, so we're very happy with the relationship and support offered by Yamaha."
Piano-centric performances at the Thalia during the 2007-2008 season include the captivating artist Jade Simmons; Amy Dissanayake; Tanya Bannister (who offered a program featuring women composers); and Montreal-based virtuoso, Sara Laimon. Other highlights include concerts by participants from Meredith Monk's 2006 Carnegie Hall workshop, who performed an all-Monk program for three voices, pianos and recorders; a classical recital by Jae Min Shin (soprano) and Diego Tomelli (piano); and an evening of modern American songs presented by famed soprano D'Anna Fortunato, tenor Michael Polscer and baritone Elem Eley, with pianist Frank Daykin. The schedule also includes numerous performances by youth orchestras, jazz bands and new music artists.
"Well-known artists such as Meredith Monk and Ursula Oppens are used to working in large venues but having the opportunity to create and shape work in a more intimate space like the Thalia allows them to do things outside of what they normally do, such as more experimental work or works in progress. They can stretch out here, share their view," Budz says. "We can change the acoustics easily with movable panels with two surfaces, one absorbent and one hard, and we've been told this is the best place to hear jazz in New York City. We also do a great deal of contemporary chamber opera, usually for one-week runs, and the Thalia has become the unofficial home of contemporary chamber opera in New York."
In addition to musical offerings, the Thalia which had its origins in the 1930s as one of New York's most beloved and respected film art houses screens an eclectic variety of films from Hollywood classics to documentaries about world music styles. "We recently featured Islamic world music; this year, it's African music," says Budz.
"We offer dance, performance art, theater, political cabaret and family programs every weekend in any one of our genres. And," Budz adds, "we love to combine mixed media, in the sense of spoken word and music or film with a discussion."
Leonard Nimoy stepped in during the Thalia's capital building campaign and contributed $1.5 million to help develop the space; he continues to provide support and occasionally performs at Symphony Space.
For further information or a program of events, please visit www.symphonyspace.org.
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622, telephone (714) 522-9011, or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.
 A Yamaha S6 concert grand piano has been onstage at the Thalia since 2001. |
Piano-centric performances at the Thalia during the 2007-2008 season include the captivating artist Jade Simmons; Amy Dissanayake; Tanya Bannister (who offered a program featuring women composers); and Montreal-based virtuoso, Sara Laimon. Other highlights include concerts by participants from Meredith Monk's 2006 Carnegie Hall workshop, who performed an all-Monk program for three voices, pianos and recorders; a classical recital by Jae Min Shin (soprano) and Diego Tomelli (piano); and an evening of modern American songs presented by famed soprano D'Anna Fortunato, tenor Michael Polscer and baritone Elem Eley, with pianist Frank Daykin. The schedule also includes numerous performances by youth orchestras, jazz bands and new music artists.
"Well-known artists such as Meredith Monk and Ursula Oppens are used to working in large venues but having the opportunity to create and shape work in a more intimate space like the Thalia allows them to do things outside of what they normally do, such as more experimental work or works in progress. They can stretch out here, share their view," Budz says. "We can change the acoustics easily with movable panels with two surfaces, one absorbent and one hard, and we've been told this is the best place to hear jazz in New York City. We also do a great deal of contemporary chamber opera, usually for one-week runs, and the Thalia has become the unofficial home of contemporary chamber opera in New York."
In addition to musical offerings, the Thalia which had its origins in the 1930s as one of New York's most beloved and respected film art houses screens an eclectic variety of films from Hollywood classics to documentaries about world music styles. "We recently featured Islamic world music; this year, it's African music," says Budz.
"We offer dance, performance art, theater, political cabaret and family programs every weekend in any one of our genres. And," Budz adds, "we love to combine mixed media, in the sense of spoken word and music or film with a discussion."
Leonard Nimoy stepped in during the Thalia's capital building campaign and contributed $1.5 million to help develop the space; he continues to provide support and occasionally performs at Symphony Space.
For further information or a program of events, please visit www.symphonyspace.org.
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622, telephone (714) 522-9011, or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.