The Richardson Olmsted Campus & the BPO present enLIGHTen Fri. July 28, 9 PM

The Richardson Olmsted Campus and the Buffalo Philharmonic present

enLIGHTen

Iconic architecture.  Stunning visuals. Inspiring LIVE music.

Fri. July 28, 9 PM

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Ms. Corey Fabian Borenstein

Visitor Services Coordinator

Richardson Olmsted Campus

726 Exchange St., Suite 1006

Buffalo, NY 14210

Direct: (716) 601-1153

tours@richardson-olmsted.com

 

Contact:

Kate Jenkins

Communications Coordinator

Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra

499 Franklin St.

Buffalo, NY 14201

(716) 242-7819

kmockler@bpo.org

In celebration of the successful completion of the first phase of redevelopment at the Richardson Olmsted Campus and as a special thank you to the community for its support, the Richardson and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, led by JoAnn Falletta, illuminate the night and invite Western New Yorkers to witness a “first” for this region.

enLIGHTen will feature an outdoor concert on the renewed South Lawn of the Richardson. Music by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Berlioz, Rachmaninoff, and more will be choreographed to a custom-designed light show projected onto the iconic Richardson Towers.  Brilliant displays of color, images, and light will trace the history of the Richardson and reflect the music being performed.

Local projectionist crew PROJEX will design the light show, with artistic direction by Keith Harrington and partnerships with local artists and the Burchfield Penney Art Center. Using the latest light mapping technology and beautiful architecture, PROJEX will transform the historic Richardson with vivid visuals and lighting, while highlighting its architectural elements and the history of the Campus.

The 145-year-old Richardson Olmsted Campus is being renewed after years of neglect. Designed by one of America’s premier architects, Henry Hobson Richardson, in concert with the famed landscape team of Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the building was completed in the late 1800s as the Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane. Over the years, as mental health treatment changed and resources were diverted, the buildings and grounds began a slow deterioration.

Today, the Richardson Olmsted Campus is being transformed into a cultural amenity for the city. Key features of a massive rehabilitation and adaptive reuse project began in 2017 with Hotel Henry Urban Resort Conference Center and the Lipsey Buffalo Architecture Center in the iconic Towers Building and two flanking buildings (about one third of the campus). Future phases of renovation and landscape improvements are continuing and will be directed by the nonprofit Richardson Center Corporation.

enLIGHTen will spotlight the history of the Richardson as a place of healing and innovative treatment. It will feature music by famous composers who lived with mental illness and created astounding music, often finding healing properties in their work.

This event is FREE and open to the public. More details will soon be available at enlightenbuffalo.com. The BPO’s performance at this event is made possible in part through a Regional Economic Development Council Arts Implementation grant from the New York State Council on the Arts, with additional support from Iroquois Bar Corporation and National Grid.

 

About the Richardson Olmsted Campus

One of Buffalo’s most iconic buildings and a National Historic Landmark, the 145-year-old Richardson Olmsted Campus is home to a hotel, conference center, and the Lipsey Buffalo Architecture Center, key features of a massive rehabilitation and adaptive reuse project.

The Campus was originally built as the Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane and was the remarkable achievement of three geniuses: the great American architect Henry Hobson Richardson; Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of landscape design; and Dr. Thomas Story Kirkbride, innovative psychiatrist and father of the American Psychiatric Association.

In 2006, the Richardson Center Corporation (RCC) was formed with a mandate to save the buildings and bring the Campus back to life through a New York State appropriation. Today, the RCC works to explore future uses for this impressive landmark.

About the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra

As Buffalo’s cultural ambassador, the Grammy Award-winning BPO led by JoAnn Falletta presents Classics, Pops, Rock, Kids, Youth and summer concerts reaching more than 200,000 people each year.

The BPO was founded in 1935. During the Great Depression, the orchestra was initially supported by funds from the Works Progress Administration and the Emergency Relief Bureau. Over the decades, the orchestra found outstanding leadership with conductors including Lukas Foss, Michael Tilson Thomas, Julius Rudel, and Semyon Bychkov. Countless distinguished guest performers have graced the stage, including Igor Stravinsky, Isaac Stern, Aaron Copland, Van Cliburn, Renee Fleming and Yo-Yo Ma.

Since 1940, the orchestra’s permanent home has been Kleinhans Music Hall, a National Historic Landmark designed by Eliel and Eero Saarinen with an international reputation as one of the finest concert halls in the United States.

About PROJEX

Projex combines more than ten years of electronic music experience with elements of video, music, projection and art. Using light mapping technology, Projex blurs the lines between audio and visual.

Projex is known for its poetic approach to storytelling through manipulating digital media, music, and video projection. Projex has shared the stage with Bonobo and Diplo among others, and most recently, Flux Pavilion at the world-renowned Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

Buffalo is the canvas where Projex drops electronica, produces multi-sensory art installations, and enhances environmental surroundings with light mapping projections. Projex is constantly evolving, creating and inspiring through sight and sound.

About Buffalo Audio Visual

BAV is a multiple-award winning Audio Visual Rental, Staging and Production Company. Founded in 1988, BAV has been servicing a prestigious list of National Association, Corporate, and Government clientele and exceeding their expectations with an unmatched level of service, experience, industry knowledge, and attention to detail. BAV is the gold standard in conference and event production.

Travelling throughout the United States and Canada, BAV offers the complete package of conference, meeting, and special event services including state of the art audio, video, computer, and lighting equipment as well as custom scenic stage set designs. Its management and staff take the time to understand our clients’ goals, missions, objectives, programs, and personnel and actually function as an extension of their staff, rather than being just a vendor.

 

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