Arts and culture of Syracuse

Syracuse is home to the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra (SSO), founded in 1961. The SSO has 75 musicians and is under direction of Daniel Hege. The orchestra performs over 200 concerts annually for an audience of over 250,000.

The Syracuse Opera Company is a professional opera company that generally performs three pieces each season. It was founded in 1963 as the Opera Chorus of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and became independent in 1973. During the 2005/2006 season it will perform Tosca, HMS Pinafore, and The Marriage of Figaro. In addition to its full performances, there are also several free outdoor concerts annually in Armory Square, Thornden Park, and elsewhere. The company has an annual budget of $1 million and is the only professional opera company in Upstate New York.

Syracuse Stage, with its many world premieres and productions that have moved to Broadway, creates often experimental and creative theater. The venue was designed by its most famous former artistic director Arthur Storch. Offering eight plays during its 31st Season (2005-2006), it is now in its tenth season under current artistic director Robert Moss.

The Everson Museum of Art which opened in 1968 in a building designed by I.M. Pei, features one of the most extensive pottery collections in the United States along with works of American art, dating from the 18th century to the present. This collection includes paintings, sculptures, drawings, photography, and video.

The Redhouse is Syracuse’s newest venture into professional theatre. Opened in 2004, The Redhouse is a small theatre. Housed in a converted hotel, this theatre not only performs pieces of stage work, but also holds performances by national recording artists, as well as screening independent films.