To continue with the grand opening of the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center, guests had the pleasure of being entertained with various events and shows taking place over the weekend. This included the Inaugural Concert featuring the Albany Symphony Orchestra, the Vox Vocal Ensemble, and the International Contemporary Ensemble, all of which took advantage of the Concert Hall’s amplified acoustics. The three musical groups fused sound and space together in a first-time performance.
The ASO is the capital region’s oldest and most revered music organization. Led by artistic director and conductor David Allen Miller, the ASO has become renowned for its contemporary and classical repertoire. Accompanying the ASO on the piano was Swedish musician Per Tengstrand, with “Piano Concerto in A Minor” by Robert Schumann.
Alongside the orchestra, the Vox Vocal Ensemble and the ICE also entertained the audience with some unique sounds and pieces. The program included works by Charles Ives (“The Unanswered Question”), Gyorgy Kurtag (“Grabstein Fur Stephan”), Gyorgy Ligeti (“Lux Aeterna”), and Thomas Tallis (“Spem in Alium”).
The Vox Vocal Ensemble and ICE used the Concert Hall to its full potential, placing themselves at advantageous points in the room so as to heighten the audience’s hearing. It was an interesting experience, as various rudimentary noises from everyday life were added into the mix, contributing a unique sound to the performances.
The Inaugural Concert took place on Friday and Saturday night during the Gala Weekend. Though it was one of the highlight performances of the EMPAC opening events, it was by no means the only thing that happened over the weekend. For those who missed the performances, there are other events happening at EMPAC in the next couple of weeks. I definitely urge the campus community to check out at least a few of the shows; you will be in for a treat.
