Hello, Cello: A Return to the Great Hall with Joshua Roman

May 8, 2019 | Feature, Town Crier

In March 2006, Joshua Roman stepped out of his chair as the youngest principal cellist in the history of Seattle Symphony with a solo recital at Town Hall that introduced him as a powerful new creative force in our city, and helped ignite his career as a featured soloist and curator. Thirteen years later, Joshua has gone on to perform with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, New World Symphony, Mariinsky Orchestra, as well as with Christian Zacharias, Yo-Yo Ma and many others—not to mention serving as Town Music’s Artistic Director.

It’s fitting that Roman’s virtuosic talent will mark the first performance back in the newly renovated Great Hall. To welcome us back to Town Hall and fully explore the Great Hall’s newly expanded acoustic capabilities, we’ve given the stage over to Joshua Roman for an evening of music under his full creative control. Tickets are on sale now.

Roman is the original mind behind the sound of Town Music, and he’s spoken about the ways Town Hall has given him opportunities to grow artistically throughout his career. At Town Hall, he’s performed Bach recitals and cello and violin duos, he’s served as a conductor for the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra, and he’s collaborated with renowned groups like JACK Quartet.

Roman’s concert also marks the first show under the Great Hall’s custom-designed acoustic reflector. As part of our renovation we’ve hung a one-of-a-kind acoustic reflector above the Great Hall stage, tuned specifically to the contours of the room to evenly deliver sound from the stage to every seat in the house—with or without a microphone. After nearly two years outside of the building, we’re so excited to see (and hear) what this new reflector can do!

This evening promises to be unforgettable—a reconnection thirteen years in the making. To commemorate our return to the Great Hall, Roman has put together an incredible repertoire. Get your tickets now before they sell out.

Check out the videos below for a preview of some of the night’s lineup!

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