My visit there was fairly positive, though the traffic was a mess on I-75.  I expected that and left two hours prior to the sart of the concert.

 

Parking lot was quite convenient. 

 

The Music Hall itself was interesting.  I can see where they might want to do a fix-up as the interior finishes are getting worn and in some cases a bit dated (not talking about the ornate trim, just things like the carpeting, seat upholstery, paint job, the drop ceilings, and so forth).  I did like how they put those glass mirrors around the water fountain...you can check out your look and primp a bit after taking a drink.

 

The space was just wonderfull though. The chadeliers are fabulous, and I liked the large lobby area with the balcony surrounding it.  It is almost like the concept behind the Paris Opera, where the guest can see and be seen as the architecture can put them on show too.

 

The hall itself was pretty impressive in volume and detail.  I used to be impressed by the Victoria here in Dayton...but not after this...the Victoria is probably 1/4 to 1/3 the size (if that).  This was a great space, with a large ceiling painting and a huge chadelier.

 

I noticed they kept the orginal hardwood floors.  Seating was well done, enough aisle space so as not to be cramped (I'm tall, and tight seating is my bane).  I was sitting in the orchestral, side section, on a cross aisle, so plenty of room to spread out.  Not the best seats in the house, and Im wondering if one of the lower balcony seats would have given a better view and sound of the peformers than an orchestra seat.

 

The show was quite nice. I enjoyed hearing a full orchestra.  They had a virtuoso violinst doing a modernist piece in the first half and I have to commend the symphony for doing something this modern as so often we just hear the classics.  The classic this night was Copeland, with a symphony based on his famous Fanfare for the Common Man in the second half.

 

Picked up some CDs at their shop, too...Ravel, Copeland of course, and a May Festival performance of a Liszt oratorio.

 

What suprised me was how sparse the crowd was. It was so sparse that I got up and moved to a better seat!  I was expecting a larger turnout for this, but then maybe Saturday night is when people go out in Cincy .  I know that is the big night for Dayton peformances of various types...thats when us culture vulutres come out in force.

 

 

 

 

 

One of the things that I thought was interesting was the paintins, sculptures and memorials of people connected with the syphony and the Music Hall.  This gives one a taste of the traditions and history of this space.

 

 

 

    I read in the paper that the long term trend shows that attendance is down, and at one point they were considering reducing the number of seats.

 

  The last time I was there I was attending a meeting in the ballroom that seated over 1000 people, and it was full. The ballroom also had a wood floor.

 

    I have a book, "Cincinnati's Music Hall," 1978. About half of the book is about the building, and about half is about the culture, up to that time. (The 1978 fashions are amusing.) There are some architectural drawings, maps, old photos, behind the scenes photos, etc. 

 

The book also has a section on Cincinnati history in general and the neighborhood west of Music Hall in particular.

 

Music Hall was originally part of a larger complex that made up the Industrial Exposition of 1879.  The other buildings, including one built over the canal, are gone. Some hidden history of the Industrial Exposition shows up in the present building in the form of architectural detailing: A bird, sunflower, musical instruments, machinery, and architect's tools. Eventually the performing arts crowded out all the other uses.

 

Although it's convenient, I don't really care for the parking structure across Central Parkway. The front door is really on the Elm Street side. 

 

  Oh, and some of the furnishings at Music Hall such as mirrors were salvaged from the Burnet House, which stood 5 stories tall at 3rd and Vine from 1850 to 1926, site of the present Central Trust Annex. The Cincinnati culture at Music Hall runs deep.

The parking garage and Channel 48 sit on the site of the old city hospital.  This spot was seen alternately as a passenger or freight terminal for the subway, in fact there are turnout stubs on the west side of the west tube for a passing siding or more.  Because this is the side of the tunnel the water main sits in, many including myself have failed to notice it while walking through the subway.   

 

 

fascinating info on this thread.

 

can anybody pinpoint whats now in the place of where the old lost exposition buildings were?

^A large exposition building was built in Washington Park.  There are trees and grass there now, as well as a gazebo.  There are a lot of old postcards floating around that show the exhibition building, and a structure over the canal behind Music Hall too.