Orchestras and dance companies still shaken up by effects of
January earthquake
By John Mangum
It’s been a year since the ground stopped shaking from last
January’s earthquake, but UCLA continues to feel the
aftershocks.
Royce Hall, a jewel in the crown of Los Angeles’ concert halls,
is closed for seismic renovation. Groups on and off campus have
been forced to cancel and reschedule events.
The earthquake hit UCLA’s power to attract large orchestras and
dance companies especially hard. Michael Blachly, the Director of
UCLA’s Center for the Performing Arts, explains the impact the loss
of Royce Hall had on these groups.
"We need Royce’s stage capacity for dance companies or
orchestras," Blachly says. "The Wadsworth is not large enough for
an orchestra."
Last year, both the Russian State Symphony and L’orchestre
national de France cancelled their UCLA appearances because they
could not be accommodated. This year, only one orchestra, the BBC
Philharmonic, will appear, and they will play at the Wiltern.
"I’ll be candid," Blachly says. "The Wiltern does not have the
most ideal acoustic for an orchestra. We’re not able to program as
many orchestras as we could in Royce Hall."
As for how Royce’s vacation from serving as a performing space
will affect the Center for the Performing Arts’ ability to draw
large ensembles, Blachly does not forsee any problems. UCLA will
once again become a stop on tours of major orchestras as soon as
Royce is re-opened.
Blachly found UCLA’s wonderful reputation to be something of a
safety net. "We have incredible support form the artists with whom
we have a history," he says.
"UCLA is perceived as a very positive performance venue. Artists
like performing at UCLA, they like performing with UCLA, they like
being sponsored by UCLA."
This support became apparent in the days after the earthquake.
In spite of this, though, Blachly admits with a sigh that it was
"very difficult" to recuperate.
"The artists were very compassionate about the problem and the
plight that we faced in losing Royce Hall and in having to
reschedule everything between the 17th of January and the
completion of the season in early June," Blachly says.
"The proudest moment was when, in one week’s period of time, we
shifted the entire remainder of the 1993-94 season as a result of
the earthquake," he continues. "People cannot believe that we
pulled off what we pulled off after the earthquake. We had the Los
Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the King’s Singers performing the
Friday and Saturday nights after the Monday earthquake."
Two of Royce’s usual inhabitants moved to the Wadsworth Theater
immediately following the quake. Both the American Youth Symphony
and the L.A. Chamber Orchestra went across the freeway and continue
to work in the Wadsworth this season.
The quake also affected another large orchestra, the L.A.
Philharmonic. The Philharmonic used Royce for their recording
sessions because of its warm and flattering acoustic, but now they
use the Terrace Theater at the Long Beach Convention Center.
Royce Hall is slated to reopen in 1996, when it will resume its
place among L.A. concert venues.