Next Friday, the long awaited, greatly anticipated R.B. Schlather production of George Frideric Handel's opera Rodelinda opens at Hudson Hall. An interesting detail of the production is that the set for the opera was built by Consigli Construction, the general contractor that completed the final phase of the $8.5 million restoration of Hudson Hall in 2017.
Anyone familiar with the building and its long history appreciates the remarkable job Consigli did in restoring the building's Performance Hall. Since completing the restoration, Consigli has remained a steadfast supporter of Hudson Hall. Faced with having to build a set for Rodelinda, the first traditional set to be built on the stage of Hudson Hall since the restoration, executive director Tambra Dillon mentioned the challenge to Consigli, and they responded by offering not only to help but to donate both their time and the materials.
So, instead of working on building or restoring a major multi-million dollar project, a small Consigli crew has been working at Hudson Hall, constructing an opera set, which includes building a beautiful 10-foot table, strong enough to hold an opera singer! It is a rare thing when a company that completes $1 billion of work each year steps up to lend a hand to a regional theater. Even Scott Cruikshank, Consigli project executive, rolled up his sleeves and strapped on his tool belt to help.
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| Consigli Construction's Danielle Millett painting a table for Rodelinda |
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| Left to right: Sage Carter, Hudson Hall general manager; Scott Cruikshank, Consigli project executive; Tambra Dillon, Hudson Hall executive director |
Dillon commented, "For Hudson Hall, Consigli is The Dream Team. When we dreamed of returning New York State's oldest surviving theater to community use, not only did Consigli do a stunning restoration, but they completed the project ahead of time. Then, Consigli was the first to invest in Hudson Hall's historic tax credits and has always stepped up to show their support. But never in our wildest dreams did we imagine Consigli would be so generous as to build us a beautiful set for our upcoming production of Rodelinda. We are so grateful to the entire Consigli crew for their skills, generosity, and commitment to supporting the community."
In related news, R.B. Schlather, producer and director of Rodelinda spoke with Sarah LaDuke about the opera and the production this morning on WAMC's Roundtable. That conversation can be heard here.
There will be six performances of Rodelinda, the first on Friday, October 20, and the final performance on Sunday, October 29. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
COPYRIGHT 2023 CAROLE OSTERINK
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