Historic opera building prepares for a new look
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Anatolia News Agency
OluÅŸturulma Tarihi: Åžubat 13, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - The renovation process of the Ankara State Opera and Ballet's historic building is underway. The 61-year-old building will undergo comprehensive restoration work including everything from its seats to its acoustic system and orchestra pit. The 2009-2010 season is scheduled to open once renovation work has been completed in October.
The historic opera building, Ankara State Opera and Ballet, or ADOB, which has hosted many world famous artists, will undergo a complete renovation restoring everything from its seats to its orchestra pit and rehearsal rooms.Â
"There is not a certain date for the start of the restoration," said ADOB Director ErdoÄŸan Davran, adding that the seats of the building would be replaced more ergonomic ones. "A project has been prepared for the orchestra pit. It will be narrower than it is currently. This will make the seating area larger. This will be better for acoustics and for the comfort of the audience."
Davran said there were acoustic problems in the building caused by the orchestra pit, and acoustic experts from Middle East Technical University, or METU, had researched the problem and would fix it. He said there would also be changes to the stage area.
"We have organized small-size activities on the opera stage. We hold nine performances on our two stages, seven days a week," Davran said. "The State Theater also performs in this building. That is why the building is never empty and needs intensive restoration. We also have problems with the workshop rooms but we have started to fix them. Our biggest issue is dry cleaning. We need to have a modern dry cleaning system."
As the building is a historic one, they will not be able to make too many changes to the stage, Davran said. "But we have a plan to make it larger. We have applied for permission to do this. If it is approved, viewers sitting to the very right and very left sides of the stage will be able to see the performances better," he said.
Chorus room is problematic
Davran said they also had problems with the rehearsal rooms. "Our chorus rooms are bad. There were about 50 to 60 artists in the chorus in its first few years but now there are more than 100 artists. At least 90 chorus artists perform in current events."
He said chorus artists rehearsed in a non-hygienic environment. "The rooms are too small and this causes high levels of carbon monoxide. There are also acoustic problems in the room."
Davran said the orchestra’s rehearsal room would undergo restoration work, adding that their first goal was to finish that room’s renovation. "When these problems are fixed, I will announce when the 2009 to 2010 season will open. But we will do our best to open the season in October."
As to having to share the building with the State Theater, Davran said they believed the opera would be more productive if they had their own building. He said Ankara needed a new opera building and a project prepared by architect Özgür Ecevit could not be implemented because of financial problems.
"There is not a certain date for the start of the restoration," said ADOB Director ErdoÄŸan Davran, adding that the seats of the building would be replaced more ergonomic ones. "A project has been prepared for the orchestra pit. It will be narrower than it is currently. This will make the seating area larger. This will be better for acoustics and for the comfort of the audience."
Davran said there were acoustic problems in the building caused by the orchestra pit, and acoustic experts from Middle East Technical University, or METU, had researched the problem and would fix it. He said there would also be changes to the stage area.
"We have organized small-size activities on the opera stage. We hold nine performances on our two stages, seven days a week," Davran said. "The State Theater also performs in this building. That is why the building is never empty and needs intensive restoration. We also have problems with the workshop rooms but we have started to fix them. Our biggest issue is dry cleaning. We need to have a modern dry cleaning system."
As the building is a historic one, they will not be able to make too many changes to the stage, Davran said. "But we have a plan to make it larger. We have applied for permission to do this. If it is approved, viewers sitting to the very right and very left sides of the stage will be able to see the performances better," he said.
Chorus room is problematic
Davran said they also had problems with the rehearsal rooms. "Our chorus rooms are bad. There were about 50 to 60 artists in the chorus in its first few years but now there are more than 100 artists. At least 90 chorus artists perform in current events."
He said chorus artists rehearsed in a non-hygienic environment. "The rooms are too small and this causes high levels of carbon monoxide. There are also acoustic problems in the room."
Davran said the orchestra’s rehearsal room would undergo restoration work, adding that their first goal was to finish that room’s renovation. "When these problems are fixed, I will announce when the 2009 to 2010 season will open. But we will do our best to open the season in October."
As to having to share the building with the State Theater, Davran said they believed the opera would be more productive if they had their own building. He said Ankara needed a new opera building and a project prepared by architect Özgür Ecevit could not be implemented because of financial problems.