Bravo! Musco Center for the Arts stars in gala opening at Chapman University

With the clinking of more than a thousand champagne glasses, a performance by opera great Plácido Domingo and a glittering outdoor light show, Chapman University celebrated its new Marybelle and Sebastian P. Musco Center for the Arts with a spectacular and historic Grand Opening Concert and Gala on Saturday, March 19.

President Jim Doti stood on the exterior balcony of the $84 million Center and raised his glass to honor the many donors who made it possible, beginning with Marybelle and Paul Musco.

“Please join me in raising our glasses to that dynamic duo, whose vision, philanthropy and incredible spirit made possible this newest crown jewel on the Chapman University campus. To Marybelle and Paul Musco!” Doti said.

The concert opened with a rousing performance of the overture from Candide performed by the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra and included a roster of performers led by opera stars Domingo, Deborah Voigt and faculty member Milena Kitic. A chorus of 150 singers conducted by Grammy-winner John DeMain included the Chapman University Singers and some 70 Chapman alumni. Following the concert, guests filled the Bette and Wylie Aitken Arts Plaza for the champagne toast and a grand illumination that painted the Arts Center in a profusion of color, the striking image of a running panther and a projected portrait of the Muscos.

After singing La Traviata Di Provenza il mar, il suol  from La Traviata, Domingo even added his official blessing, kissing his fingertips and then lovingly touching them to the stage.

Rave Reviews for Musco Center

Musco Center’s sound decision pays dividends in hall’s debut, Los Angeles Times

Musco Center Opens with Operatic Celebration, Orange County Register

“I think you will all agree that the seeds that have planted here at the Musco Center are ready to grow into great things. This truly is the best of all possible worlds,” said Alex David ’09, master of ceremonies and grandson of the Muscos.

But the real star of the show was the magnificent 88,000-square-foot Center. Designed by Pfeiffer Partners, the venue was carefully planned to fit into surrounding historic Old Towne Orange, while meeting the needs of a world-class arts education and entertainment center. A state-of-the-art, 110,000-pound orchestra shell can be lifted and separated into seven pieces to best fit a variety of productions. The acoustics were designed by Yasuhisa Toyota, who was also the acoustician for Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Reviews of the evening and the Center in the
Los Angeles Times
and
Orange County Register
were extremely complimentary.
Times
classical music critic Mark Swed hailed that “the city of Orange now houses an ideal opera house, potentially the best in the West and maybe even something more.”

The celebration was the result of a dream that began almost seven years ago with a $25-million anonymous challenge grant announced at the 2009 Sholund Concert. Support grew, and in 2012 a festive groundbreaking officially began the construction process, watched by the University community via webcams, social media updates and time-lapse videos.

Now Chapman looks forward to filling the stage with student productions, making it a home for world-class arts education and artistic excellence. The public will be among the first to enjoy it all at the
Community Open House & Arts Festival
on Saturday, April 2, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., when Chapman opens the doors for a daylong cavalcade of performances, family activities and more.