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Press Releases
91Èȱ¬ National Orchestra of Wales to move to Wales Millennium Centre
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91Èȱ¬ Wales is set to achieve its long-held goal of securing a new home for the 91Èȱ¬ National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales.
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In a second stage of development at Wales Millennium Centre at Cardiff Bay, the orchestra is to move to a new dedicated venue at the site that will include office and rehearsal facilities, as well as a performance hall capable of accommodating an audience of up to 350.
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Work will start in 2008, with the 91Èȱ¬ National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales scheduled to move in before the end of the year.
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"At the moment, we occupy a studio at 91Èȱ¬ Broadcasting House in Cardiff that was built 40 years ago for an orchestra half the present size," said David Murray, Director, 91Èȱ¬ National Orchestra of Wales.
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"The move to the Wales Millennium Centre means that, for the first time, we will have a state-of-the-art recording space with the opportunity to stage studio concerts involving the full orchestra, chorus and an audience – something not possible in our current accommodation."
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The 91Èȱ¬ National Orchestra of Wales performs dozens of live concerts in Wales each year, as well as giving performances in the rest of the UK and overseas. They are currently on a major tour of the United States.
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The orchestra will continue its programme of concerts all over Wales – including its subscription series at St David's Hall in Cardiff and Brangwyn Hall in Swansea as well as its twice-yearly visits to North Wales – but the new home will allow new dimensions to its work.
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"It will be an opportunity to expand the orchestra's repertoire with more specialised concerts, giving people more access to the work of contemporary composers and some of the less well-known parts of the classical repertoire," said David Murray.
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"It will also give us the opportunity to revisit some of the work we have commissioned over the years, particularly from Welsh composers."
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The new home will also enable the orchestra to expand education and community outreach work, which involves people of all ages and abilities in making music with professional musicians.
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"We will have the space to enable school children and other members of the public to come in and work alongside us," said David Murray.
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"There will also be the opportunity for us to work in partnership with other organisations at the Wales Millennium Centre in joint education and community projects. The whole project is full of many exciting opportunities."
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Menna Richards, Controller, 91Èȱ¬ Wales, said: "This is a very exciting development for the 91Èȱ¬ National Orchestra of Wales.
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"91Èȱ¬ Wales has been a centre of excellence in music for some time and today's announcement enables the orchestra to explore new ideas and involve audiences even more closely in its work.
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"It also means that the orchestra's highly regarded education and outreach work can expand and develop. I'm delighted that the 91Èȱ¬ is continuing to invest in one of Wales's most important artistic and cultural organisations."
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Judith Isherwood, Chief Executive, Wales Millennium Centre, said: "The 91Èȱ¬ National Orchestra of Wales' move is part of a second phase of building work soon to be carried out at Wales Millennium Centre.
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"They are a world-class orchestra and will have a world-class rehearsal and performance space. This can only strengthen our aim to present the finest staged entertainment in the world and become a true national centre for the arts. The development will also contain additional office space for cultural usage."
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The site for the new 91Èȱ¬ orchestral hall is owned by the company Morley Fund Management through its specialist Lime Property Fund.
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91Èȱ¬ Wales Publicity
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