Standing Ovation for Bass Performance Hall in Its 25th Year
April 6,2023
See full NBC DFW article here.
A silver anniversary is something to celebrate, and that milestone belongs to the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth.
It opened 25 years ago and brought the city's downtown one of its most signficant changes.
The grand opening performances in May 1998 were called Let the Angels Play with comedienne and Texas native Carol Burnett and renowned pianist and Fort Worth favorite son the late Van Cliburn as the stars.
"What we were so excited to see was the citizens of Fort Worth show their intense thirst for the arts," Cliburn said at a news conference that year with Burnett adding, "I'm so honored that we're the first ones to kick it off."
$65 million in private funds paid for Bass Hall and elevated the city's cowboys and culture tagline.
The venue takes up a full city block in Sundance Square. Special features include the 2,042-seat multipurpose Hall which is characteristic of the classic European opera house form. An 80' diameter Great Dome tops the Founders Concert Theatre. Two iconic 48' angels grace the Grand Facade.
It is the permanent home to the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Texas Ballet Theater, Fort Worth Opera, Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and the Cliburn.
Location Mentioned: Bass Performance Hall