The Sun Valley Resort has several firsts in the history books of mountain resorts, and on Sunday, Aug. 3, it will add another. The opening of the Sun Valley Pavilion with the first concert of the Sun Valley Summer Symphony season marks the beginning of a new era for the symphony and for events and entertainment in Sun Valley.
Set in the climes of the Sun Valley Resort, there are plenty of Baldy views for all from 1,500 seats inside the pavilion to the backstretches of the lawn. The pavilion boasts a 70-foot high proscenium arch, curved copper shingled roof, a half an acre of tensile fabric stretched from the arch's apex to a curved promenade behind the rear seating area and a concert hall sound throughout the lawn powered by the LARES-Lexicon sound system.
"It is the state of the art in acoustics, architecture and electronics," said Sun Valley Summer Symphony Board of Directors President Carol Nie. "We fully intend to use the capabilities and technological achievements in the pavilion to reproduce works and performances like never before."
After Nie had been board president for many years, she was asked to come back to take over again three years ago.
"About four or five years ago a group of people from the board were thinking about a more permanent site for the symphony," Nie said. "Nicholas Goldsmith from New York had the most interesting and conceptual design for the pavilion, and we had always hoped it would be on the grounds of Sun Valley."
In 2006 Earl Holding made a commitment at the final summer symphony concert. Lots of research and travel to seek out the most state-of-the-art facility commenced and last summer the Goldsmith plan was put into action.
"I have never been associated with more generous people than Earl and Carol and the entire Holding family," Nie said. "Without Wally Huffman, this project could not have been completed. I will forever be personally and professionally be in his debt."
In the quality of materials used in the pavilion's structure, from the 1,000 tons of travertine rock from the Mariotti quarry outside Rome, Italy, to the 3,000-foot stage made of massaranduba Brazilian "iron" wood and mahogany wood paneling on the back of stage, no detail was spared.
"Cathleen Holding used the words that the Sun Valley Pavilion is an edifice for the ages," said the Sun Valley Summer Symphony's executive director Jennifer Tessinger. "The pavilion is all our dreams come true in this building, and it's not just the organization but what we are able to offer the community. It will put the symphony on the map."
There are mezzanine terraces for bar and cocktail areas as well as a 4,000-square foot back terrace for social gatherings before and after performances. In addition, there are artist's dressing rooms, one large enough for a baby grand piano, and the stage has the capacity to accommodate two semi trucks loads of equipment. As many as 4,500 people can attend a concert with pavilion seating and surrounding lawn areas. In addition, the pavilion roof supported by a cable system made in Germany is flexible and can deflect up to 14-inches under snow load conditions.
"From our perspective, this pavilion gives us an incredible opportunity to do multi-media works and some opera," Nie said. "Alsadair would like to do that, and the pavilion presents a huge opportunity to do all kinds of repertory in the classical range. It is such a gift. It is a pavilion for the ages, and it will change this community for the better."
The evening will begin in the late afternoon with a community festival on the pavilion lawn at 4 p.m. with clowns, face painting, giveaways and a few surprises including free tee shirts. At 6 p.m. Neale will conduct a special evening of music, which will begin with the world premier of composer's Kevin Puts overture, "Hymn to the Sun" and special guest violinist Gil Shaham. "Hymn to the Sun" was commissioned by the symphony for the opening.
"It's a unique orchestra," said Nie. "Musicians are from all over the country and the world and 80 percent of them return every year and they love playing together."
The night will continue with Brahms' "Concerto for Violin in D Major, Opus 77" followed by Tchaikovsky's "Overture 1812, Opus 49," which will include a 16-cannon salute.
The symphony celebrates 24 seasons this summer and is the largest privately funded free admission symphony in the U.S. It was founded in 1985 as the Elkhorn Music Festival by Dr. Carl Eberl, professor emeritus at the College of the City University of New York, and his wife Julianne. The orchestra grew from 22 musicians to 55 at the time of his retirement and under the leadership of Neale, the orchestra has grown to more than 100 players.
The festival moved to the Sun Valley Esplanade in its 9th season. In 1995, Neale, then Associate Conductor of the San Francisco Symphony and Conductor of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and now Music Director of the Marin Symphony and the Principal Guest Conductor of the New World Symphony, was selected to succeed Dr. Eberl.
Neale, in his 14th season, now conducts a full symphony orchestra that includes distinguished musicians from major orchestras throughout North America, including the San Francisco Symphony, the Pittsburgh Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, the Houston Symphony, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony, and the Saint Louis Symphony and the National Symphony Orchestra.
Over the years many acclaimed guest artists have joined the symphony and this year is no exception and will include performances with pianist Jean Yves-Thibaudet, violinist Gil Shaham, violinist Joshua Bell, pianist Orion Weiss, vocalist Steven Morgan, vocalist Michael Lowe, conductor Erich Kunzel and composer Steven Reineke.
This year the Sun Valley Summer Symphony will feature a special pilot program, "Date Night," with the YMCA for childcare. In the back of the lawn, there will be kids arts and crafts activities for ages 5 to 11 so parents may enjoy the concert. This is a new program for Wednesday, Aug. 6, and Saturday, Aug. 16. Call the symphony office for reservations, at 622-5607. There is a limit of 20 children and the program is free.
In order for the Sun Valley Summer Symphony to stay free and offer community programs, each summer it holds a benefit. This summer the Sun Valley Summer Symphony presents the 2008 Benefit Concert featuring the 360-member Mormon Tabernacle Choir with vocal sensation Denyce Graves and the full Sun Valley Summer Symphony orchestra on Saturday, Aug. 9. The evening will begin with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at 4 p.m. and the two-hour concert will begin at 6 p.m. Premier seats are $500 each and general seats are $250 each. For reservations, call 622-5607.
In addition the symphony supports a year round music school and reaches out to 60 kids and works with the Blaine County School district as well as holds summer music workshops, which begin in August.
"It's like trying to count the stars," Tessinger said. "The symphony brought the concept of a permanent facility to the Holdings and they embraced it. They see the arts as a pathway to economic growth."
Pavilion info
· Handicap parking is limited to those who really need it and will be available at the main entrance to the pavilion on Baldy View Loop and on the grass next to the ice rink on the west side of Baldy View Loop. A security guard will be stationed in this area to show people where to park.
· Public parking will be available at the Horseman's Center entering from Dollar Road. A barricade closing off the east bound traffic from Sun Valley Road will route cars into the Horseman's Center parking lot. A barricade closing off the west bound traffic from Elkhorn Road will also route traffic into the Horseman's Center lot. A guard will assist patrons to cross Dollar Road enclosed by these barricades. The barricades will allow for safer pedestrian street crossing. Local traffic, buses and emergency vehicles will be allowed through the barricade.
· A shuttle will take patrons from Dollar Lodge to the east (West Lake Road side) entrance to the pavilion.
· Patrons may also park in the Community School lot.
· Patrons may also be dropped off at the pavilion at the bus stop on the North (pavilion side) of Dollar and walk up the paved walkway to the main entrance.
· Wheelchair parking at the Sun Valley Indoor Ice Rink and disabled can be dropped off at the main entrance and circle drive.
· Only handicapped assistance dogs are allowed in the pavilion.
· There is an elevator for all pavilion levels.
· First three rows reserved for volunteers and seniors.
· There is parking at the Horseman Center for all attendees.
· No food or coolers with food are allowed inside the pavilion.
· Low back chairs are encouraged for lawn seating.
· Take cell phone calls away from listening area (cell phones should be silenced).
· There are 10 public bathrooms located on either side of the pavilion and there are portable restrooms in the back of the lawn.
· ALL CONCERTS ARE FREE except the benefit, Aug. 9.
· For details, call 622-5607 or visit svsummersymphony.org.
The Sun Valley Pavilion nears completion for the Sun Valley Summer Symphony 2008 season. Photo by Willy Cook
