The New World Symphony presents a new season of concerts (with some upgrades) under the stars at Soundscape Park.
A New World Symphony Wallcast takes performances outdoors.
Although Beethoven may not have meant for his “Moonlight Sonata” to literally involve moonlight, the New World Symphony certainly saw potential. This October, the concert hall kicks off its third season of outdoor Wallcasts, inviting culture aficionados to spread out on the grass in SoundScape Park and enjoy the magic of live symphonies projected against the backdrop of a starlit Miami Beach.
On show nights, the buzz builds as concertgoers—a cross-section of locals and out-of-towners, families and first dates, skaters and bodybuilders, and the occasional celebrity—canvas the 2.5-acre lawn with blankets and folding chairs before the show lights up the center’s 7,000-square-foot wall. Although European fare is available for purchase inside at Thierry’s (the glass-and-titanium lit bar located on the first level of the Atrium), most attendees opt to pack their own picnic for a fully customized classical music experience.
“I even know people who plant their gardens to be able to harvest them and make fresh dishes specifically for these events,” says Craig Hall, NWS’s vice president of communications. “It’s yet another way in which people can make these events their own. What food goes best with Bach? What wine do you like to drink with Beethoven? It’s all up to the concertgoer.”
For many, viewing the concert alfresco is just as delightful as seeing one performed inside the Frank Gehry-designed building. It’s certainly a different experience; for one, Wallcasts are free. And come fall, the evenings are cool and crisp, and attendees aren’t restricted by a dress code. Plus, while there are 756 seats in the concert hall, SoundScape Park can fit many times that number, giving guests a chance to mingle with those around them. “Ultimately, we wanted to develop a connectedness, a relationship, that wouldn’t be possible in a traditional building,” says Hall.
This year, NWS has upgraded its already high-quality park equipment to 4K projectors and cameras, which have four times the resolution and quality of HD to deliver a more dynamic visual experience. The first Wallcast, on October 11, will be conducted by NWS cofounder and Artistic Director Michael Tilson Thomas, and accented by a special video accompaniment created for Antheil’s A Jazz Symphony, one of the works on the program.
“For some performances, we might have special giveaways, and other Wallcast concerts might be preceded by a culinary event on the plaza,” says Hall. “We’re upping the ante and creating even more opportunities for people to have a multifaceted experience at the New World Center.” 500 17th St., Miami Beach, 305-673-3331