Ending One Era, Embarking on Another
Over the years, since 1992 when the newly formed not-for-profit Hudson Opera House, Inc., purchased the 1855 building that had been Hudson's City Hall, some of us have grown fond of the ruined elegance of the auditorium on the second floor.
In the past decade, there have been two magic moments when the unrestored space was transformed for memorable occasions. In 2005, the Hudson Opera House staged its annual gala on the second floor, to commemorate the building's sesquicentennial. In 2009, the opera Diamond Street, commissioned by the Hudson Opera House for the Henry Hudson Quadricentennial and composed by Harold Farberman with a libretto by Andrew Joffe, was performed in the auditorium which took on the name opera house in the Gilded Age--only the second opera to be performed there.
Tomorrow night, the unrestored auditorium will be the setting for another memorable event: the Spring Fling Gala Dinner, the last big celebration amid the shabby elegance we've grown to love before the long awaited restoration begins.
Gary Schiro, executive director of the Hudson Opera House, announced late this morning that the dinner has been sold out--great news for the Hudson Opera House, but bad news if you haven't already secured your place at the festive board. (Swoon is doing the catering). But you can still be part of this momentous occasion by joining the revelers for cocktails and the silent auction at 5 p.m. Call the Opera House (518 822-1438) or check the website to learn how.
Sadly, though, if you're not having dinner, your only glimpse of the stunning decor designed for the occasion by Ken Polinskie may be the photograph that accompanies Scott Baldinger's latest post on Word on the Street: "Smiles on a Spring Night."
COPYRIGHT 2014 CAROLE OSTERINK
It's a great building, I'm glad it's still vibrant. (even if a bird did poop on my head there as I sat on the granite edge in the early 60's) I remember two type of events in the mid sixties upstairs. From what I recall there was never a great décor, per se. I attended few teen dances were we scuffed the floor to great Motown music. And I bounded in on a weekend night as my mother played Bingo at was then the Moose Hall. That was very popular.. the hot dogs looked great. A group of us came looking for our parents that night because we spotted a UFO 2x, no kidding, over the empty lot by the Blue Store (paint sales back then). What an active street back then filled with lots of families and their kids.
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