Frances Veri and Michael Jamanis are shown performing George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" in the new
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The concert also featured (from left, back row) Jamie Bernstein, Arnold Steinhardt, and Newstead Trio
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"Great things will happen here," proclaimed Mayor Rick Gray Wednesday evening, just before a ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opened the $25 million Pennsylvania Academy of Music at 42 N. Prince St.
It didn't take long for Gray's words to come true.
From the very first note of Arnold Steinhardt's violin at the concert that followed, it was clear the Steinman Recital Hall looks and — far more importantly — sounds great.
The 364-seat recital hall is the "crown jewel" of the academy's new building and this was its first public performance.
"Rhapsody in Blue," performed by the founders of the academy, Frances Veri and Michael Jamanis, sparkled and brought cries of "Bravo!" from the audience and an energetic and immediate standing ovation.
Everyone in the hall knew that this night was the culmination of a 20-year dream the couple have pursued to create a first-rate facility for their school.
"This building is worthy of any city in the world," said Claire Bloom, the actress who hosted the concert. "This is such a magnificent hall and facility."
While Bloom, who is from England, hadn't seen the two-year progress of the building rise from the ashes of the old AAA building, most everyone else at the gala ceremony had, and it was a night to celebrate.
"This is a huge asset to our city," said Ellen Groff, a long-time booster of the arts in Lancaster. "It's so important for the city to have a core group of creative people who love the energy, love the city, who want to live and work here. To have a building of this quality is just so exciting. It's remarkable."
The mayor agreed, saying he was thrilled with the prospect of living just a block away from a first-rate concert hall.
"It's just unbelievable to have it in the city," Gray said.
Bob Brandt III, who served as the project manager for Benchmark Construction in Brownstown, said it's going to be strange not coming to work at the academy every day.
"I have been living and breathing this for two years," said Brandt, who covered just about every aspect of the construction project. "We worked with some truly amazing people. Cyril Harris (who designed the sound for the recital hall) is a great person, unique and interesting. We were able to do what he wanted. And Duane Schrempp (from the architectural firm Philip Johnson/Alan Ritchie, which designed the building) lived here for over a year. We became good friends."
Brandt said there were particular challenges, especially with acoustics, but it was an experience he'll miss.
"I live five blocks away and I'll miss walking to work every morning," he said. "The support we've had from everyone has been awesome."
Architect Ritchie was in attendance Wednesday evening, happy with the results of his work.
"It feels good after all the effort and time," he said. "To have the ideas go from your mind to seeing it built is great."
He is pleased with the way the building fits into Prince Street.
"You want to fit into the community; it's your responsibility," he said. "It's clean and modern, a 21st century building, but we've been respectful to the Fulton next door and all the other buildings."
Ritchie remembered sitting down with Veri and Jamanis and showing them his initial sketches on tracing paper more than seven years ago.
"It's amazing how similar they are to what we have," he said. "I especially remember Fran describing how she wanted the recital hall to be the egg, the jewel of the building and have the school wrapped around it. And that's what we've got."
"It's been a long road," said Paul Ware, chairman of the academy's board and an active board member since 1992. "I was talking to Bob Falk, who was my predecessor on the board. We were remembering acquiring the AAA building, and putting together the process to get the state funding and the ups and downs and not giving up."
"I think it's delicious, just beautifully appointed," said Jamie Bernstein, daughter of the late Leonard Bernstein, who introduced her father's "Make Our Garden Grow" (from "Candide"), performed by the Children's Choir and Chorale as the final piece of the concert.
In addition to Steinhardt (who played a Bach partita), and Veri and Jamanis, the concert included the world premiere of "Tunes from My Homeland," by Chinese composer Chen Yi, performed by the academy's Newstead Trio, featuring Michael Jamanis (son of Veri and Jamanis) on violin, Sara Male on cello and Xun Pan on piano.
The Philharmonic Orchestra, comprising former and current string players from the academy, performed Karl Jenkins' "Palladio" and Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings."
"My father would have loved this," Bernstein said, looking around the hall. "He always believed you can't have enough music in the world. I think he was right."
Staff writer Jane Holahan can be reached at jholahan@LNPnews.com or 481-6016.
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