Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Celebration Tinged with Controversy

Saturday before last, major donors and longtime supporters of the Hudson Opera House were invited to a special preview of the newly restored second-floor performance space. Jamie Larson was there to cover the event for Rural Intelligence: "Henry Hudson Hall: New Name, New Life for the Opera House." (Larson's review was written before the new name was revised to simply Hudson Hall.)
Toward the end of his review, Larson touches on the re-branding of the Hudson Opera House and concludes: "It would be unfortunate if a disagreement detracted from the monumental concrete achievement soon to be unveiled for all to see (a Community Day is planned for May 21). The Opera House earned its virtues through hard work, excellent programming and dedication to the Hudson community--and none of that had changed with the name." To that I would counter that the Hudson Opera House established its reputation through hard work, excellent programming, and the dedication of a vast community of supporters, and discarding or watering down the name it has had through a generation of evolution disrepects the achievement of the past twenty-five years.
COPYRIGHT 2017 CAROLE OSTERINK
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7 comments:

  1. Byrne Fone March 28, 2017 at 12:43 PM

    CAROLE OSTERRINK SAID:"The Hudson Opera House established its reputation through hard work, excellent programming, and the dedication of a vast community of supporters, and discarding or watering down the name it has had through a generation of evolution disrepects the achievement of the past twenty-five years."
    WELL SAID, CAROLE, VERY WELL SAID.

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  2. VincentMarch 28, 2017 at 2:21 PM

    "hubris" comes to mind

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  3. AnonymousMarch 28, 2017 at 3:23 PM

    Management at the Opera House seriously underestimated the extent to which the name of the building is embedded in the cultural DNA of the community. And, the notion of 're-branding' an institution that has often advertised itself as the oldest Opera House in the state of NY just doesn't make sense. Let's leave re-branding to Coke and Toyota.

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    Replies
    1. j kayMarch 28, 2017 at 8:36 PM

      its the first Opera House -- thats the point !! exactly. so lets leave it with its name and pedigree.

      the New Coke did not work either. the Board just went too far.

      now, its time to enjoy it -- the Hudson Opera House forever. !!

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  4. Ellen JEMarch 28, 2017 at 3:58 PM

    I think it's time to move on from this, and celebrate the renovation. No I don't live in Hudson -- so shoot me -- but am a county resident.

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  5. windleMarch 28, 2017 at 5:57 PM

    Move on from this? That's terrible advice.
    Hudson Opera House !

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  6. Enid FuttermanMarch 29, 2017 at 9:47 AM

    http://imby.com/hudson/article/hudson-opera-house-responds-to-the-backlash-with-a-baby-step/

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