Charleston Gaillard Center
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
APRIL 2, 2021 | Presented with two tickets to the symphony, we jumped at the offer. After all, we had not been in attendance at anything much at all during the pandemic, except for two special outdoor church services.
The occasion was last weekend, when visiting children in Charleston, S.C. And it was the Charleston Symphony Orchestra (CS0) we would be attending, as it was to present a concert featuring our favorite composer, Ludwig van Beethoven. They were to play Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony in the vast and beautiful Gaillard Auditorium (1,800 seats). The symphony is featuring Beethoven works during 2021, the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth. It will be playing the fan-favorite Fifth Symphony on April 16.
At the Saturday concert, there were few in attendance, actually less than 200, because of socially-distanced seating. The Charleston Symphony had continued to offer concerts during the pandemic, but to a widely-dispersed audience.
This chance to attend the symphony also had another special meaning for me. Accompanying me would be my granddaughter, Ellie, a 14 year old who has talent with the piano. That really made it distinctive and fun, at least for me. She seemed to enjoy her outing.
For the pandemic-stricken year, the Charleston orchestra continued in-person full symphonic performances with live audiences, which were available in person for subscribers, though with limited attendance, in addition to virtual audiences. It is one of the few symphonies in the country to continue to offer live performances, which were made possible by the symphony’s partnerships with the Gaillard Auditorium and the Medical University of South Carolina, as well as patron support. Now in its 84th season, The CSO is the largest resident orchestra in South Carolina.
The Charleston Symphony has weathered the pandemic, though after restructuring. The organization, which has a $3.5 million operating budget, had a deficit for 2021 by almost $1 million in revenue, including an approximate $750,000 loss of ticket sales.
This symphony showcases a broad range of repertoire ranging from some of the beloved classical works to vibrant new music, choral works, opera, and collaborations with world-renowned composers and artists. Additionally, the CSO is visible in the community in smaller venues, performing chamber ensemble concerts during the year at clubhouses, churches, and private venues.
The orchestra was founded in 1936 by Miss Maude Winthrop Gibbon and Mrs. Martha Laurens Patterson. It currently employs 24 full-time musicians.
It gained early fame through the efforts of David Stahl, former music director, who studied under Leonard Bernstein and was known for his interpretation of Mahler‘s works. Stahl served as music director and conductor for 27 years, from 1984 until he died on October 24, 2010, of lymphoma. Stahl was credited with elevating the CSO to a world-class program.
Maestro Ken Lam was appointed music director of the CSO in 2014 and began his first season with the orchestra in 2015. The 2022 season is Lam’s last year with the orchestra. After 2022, the music director role will be filled partly with guest conductors, who will be enlisted for the orchestra’s Masterworks program. A newly created position of artistic director will be taken by Yuriy Bekker, Charleston Symphony’s concertmaster and principal pops conductor.
It was a great evening for Ellie and me, out and about and hearing classical music. And we got back home just after 9 p.m.!
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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