OVERTURE CENTER FOR THE ARTS

This state-of-the-art arts centre, which includes an opera house, theatre and exhibition galleries, offers Madisonians the opportunity to host international artists and performances at home. The Overture Center was designed by internationally renowned architect Cesar Pelli, born in Argentina and trained at Yale University on the east coast of the United States. The "Overture Hall" of the Overture Center deserves a little description. This large opera and concert hall, with dressing rooms and balconies, can hold two thousand two hundred and fifty spectators. Its design, its materials, the wooden panels covering the balconies and dressing rooms, those of the ceiling, curved and perforated, everything has been carefully studied to obtain exceptional acoustics. The organ, whose pipes spread out over the stage like a beautiful wave, was imported from Germany. It is here that the Madison City Symphony Orchestra, Opera and Ballet, among others, perform. A superb achievement. In terms of programming, the centre hosts tours of Broadway's biggest musicals, organizes silent film screenings and offers free concerts by local artists every month. The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art is also housed in the premises of the Overture Center for the Arts and exhibits both its permanent collection and temporary exhibitions.