atlanta symphony
The ASO's main concert venue is Atlanta Symphony Hall in the Woodruff Arts Center. It plays an extensive outdoor summer pops concert series at Atlanta's city-owned Chastain Park, and at other parks in the area. In February 2005 the orchestra unveiled plans for the new Atlanta Symphony Center concert hall designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, to be built subject to raising construction funds of approximately US$300 million. In 2007, the ASO broke ground for the new US$35 million 12,000-seat outdoor Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park in north Fulton County in the town of Alpharetta, some 25 miles north of Atlanta. Encore Park and the Amphitheatre will be owned by the Woodruff Arts Center, the ASO's parent organization; they are scheduled to open in May 2008. With a budget expected to increase to US$50 million with the completion of its new Amphitheatre, the ASO will become one of the six or seven largest orchestras in America, by budget size. The ASO's budget includes not only the costs of production, along with orchestra and staff salaries and benefits, but also the symphony's very significant expenditures on education, community outreach, special events and fundraising. With the addition of Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre while continuing its activities at Atlanta Symphony Hall and Chastain Park, the ASO will present more than 300 performances annually.
Music directors
- Robert Spano (Music Director, 2001- )
- Yoel Levi (Music Director, 1988-2000; Music Director Emeritus, 2000-2005)
- Robert Shaw (Music Director and Conductor, 1967-1988; Music Director Emeritus and Conductor Laureate, 1988-1999)
- Henry Sopkin (Conductor, 1945-1966)
References