HVP has a new home for the 1981-82 season

HVP has a new home for the 1981-82 season. The Hudson Valley Philharmonic will have a new permanent home at the historic Bardavon 1869 Opera House beginning with the 1981-82 symphony season.

At a press conference Tuesday, Oct. 28, Kenneth Miron, President of the Board of Directors of the HVP announced that the move to the Bardavon once more reaffirms the Philharmonic' s commitment to bring great music to the Mid-Hudson Valley as well as to strengthen the cultural environment of downtown Poughkeepsie.

Miron stated that since the HVP is the largest cultural organization in the Hudson. Valley, it will add a major dimension to Poughkeepsie's efforts to regain its title of "queen of the Hudson." Miron added that the HVP itself is "indeed proud to have its own symphony hall."

Renovations are underway to restore the Bardavon to its original state as a concert hall. Dressing rooms have been built, and the outer lobby has been refurbished and renamed, "The Gallery'. Barrett House has agreed to provide a rotating display of local artists for concert goers to view at intermission.

State Senator Jay Rolison (R Poughkeepsie) announced at the press conference that he would back a proposal for the State Office of Parks and Recreation to allocate from its budget $60,000 for initial work to renovate the exterior of the building. The Bardavon 1869 Opera House has recently been named to the national register of historic places.

Benjamin R. Strong, President of the Bardavon Board of Directors said that they also planned to improve the balcony seating, expand the stage to accommodate the full orchestra, build a new shell, and rebuild their Steinway piano.

Strong added that "the Bardavon will be able to realize its goal of complete renovation much quicker as already evidenced by the substantial pledges of support for improvement to make this a better home for the Philharmonic. The community gains as we both do our part to help bring this area of the city back to its former glory."

There are significant reasons for the Philharmonic moving to the Bardavon, he said. The acoustics are superb. The ambiance is of a small European concert hall. Concerts may be scheduled far in advance.

Furthermore, as Imre Pallo, maestro of the HVP says, "Ultimately every orchestra wants to have its own sound. To be able to rehearse where one is to perform — that is the goal of every regional orchestra."

"I see this move as the crowning event of what I have experienced in this house and in this community," says Pallo, adding that it is a "dream come true. Our orchestra now takes its place in the music world with other prominant orchestras who have historic permanent homes. Artistically and acoustically our move to the Bardavon promises inspiring performances."

The 930-seat hall will accommodate the present subscription list with opportunity for repeat performances if demand warrants it in the future.

The Hudson Valley Philharmonic's full range of programs includes a six concert series for full orchestra and soloists which performs both in Poughkeepsie and Kingston, a Youth series started this year and already scheduled at the Bardavon, a Pop series given at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center, a music program, youth orchestra, and a series of inschool concerts designed to bring symphonic music directly to school-age students.

With a budget of more than half a million dollars, the HVP is the sixth largest orchestra in New York State and the largest performing institution in the Mid-Hudson Valley.

The orchestra received special recognition by the New York State Council on the Arts "for their persistent and successful efforts in developing a regional orchestra of high calibre and stature." Each year, concerts by the Philharmonic are heard by more than 200,000 people in the Mid-Hudson Valley.