03.14.06 - TUNE IN TO ORCHESTRA'S VALUE: SYMPHONY CENTER WOULD BOOST CITY'S MUSICAL LIMELIGHT
By TOM COLEY, Southern Banking Group Executive, Wachovia Atlanta Journal-Constitution View Online Article
03.13.06 - NEVER MIND NASCAR: LET'S BUILD CONCERT HALL, RIGHTS MUSEUM By MARIA SAPORTA, My Opinion, Atlanta Journal-Constitution View Online Article
03.05.06 - NASCAR: Responses to "NASCAR outraces ASO bid," Arts & Books, Feb. 26, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Don't pass up on Symphony Center
I am astonished that the city of Atlanta would consider having the NASCAR hall of fame building erected in lieu of the proposed Atlanta Symphony Center.
Atlanta has been presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have the architectural statement it needs to be recognized as a metropolis of culture.
The proposed Symphony Center will do for Atlanta what the Sydney Opera House has for Australia. Architect Santiago Calatrava has designed a magnificent structure, and it would be a disaster if ignored.
RICHARD KLIEMT, Roswell Hall for car racing does not compare
Local officials typically endorse the values of NASCAR fans and consider car racing to be more important than improving the city's culture. A new concert hall is far more valuable than a building full of trophies, plaques and tributes to race-car drivers. Classical music contributes much more to a people's culture than a sport associated with fast cars, beer and near-crashes. More shocking is the possibility that architect Santiago Calatrava's beautiful design for a new concert hall may be dumped. If any expenditure is worth it, that one is. He is the greatest architect to come along in the past 50 years, and Atlanta has grossly undervalued his work before. It would be a black mark against the city and its officials if we were to once again dump Calatrava's services because a few people are too stupid and shortsighted to realize how valuable he could be to Atlanta.
ALBERT SANCHEZ MORENO, East Point
Redirect funds
If Atlanta doesn't get the NASCAR hall of fame, the city and state governments should redirect all public funding intended for the museum to the Atlanta Symphony Center.
TIM COWLBECK, Atlanta
Winter 05-06 - Orchestrated Excellence in Atlanta Travelgirl Magazine View article [.pdf]
11.18.05-11.24.05 - The shape of things to come: Planned symphony center latest in establishing Midtown as center for the arts Atlanta Business Chronicle - by Tom Barry View article [.pdf]
09.23.05 - Symphony: Music Equals Money Study says orchestra’s new hall would generate $2 billion in economic growth by 2020 Atlanta Journal Constitution – by Tom Sabulis View article [.pdf]
The design process of the hall's interior began two years ago with in-depth tours of the world's great concert halls...