One of the most exciting new buildings to open in the UK this year, The Sage Gateshead international music centre, designed by Foster and Partners, will open to the public on Friday 17 December.
The announcement was made today by Anthony Sargent, General Director of The Sage Gateshead and Cllr Mick Henry, Leader of Gateshead Council. Anthony Sargent comments; "The opening of our new home (after a decade's planning) is truly a day for everyone in the Northeast who loves any kind of music, or wants to make their own new musical discoveries, to celebrate with us."
The building will be a landmark on Tyneside, Cllr Mick Henry comments; " The completion of this spectacular building is a major milestone in the area's regeneration that will once again put Gateshead on a world stage. And we now look forward to opening the doors in December so that everyone can get their first glimpse of what we can do here in Gateshead."
Providing a home for the Northern Sinfonia and Folkworks, The Sage Gateshead is expected to attract over a half million visitors each year. The building will house three state-of-the-art concert halls with outstanding acoustics and technical facilities for all kinds of music and speech, and capacities ranging from 1,700 to 300 seats. A dedicated Music Education Centre, one of the most sophisticated in Europe, will be equipped with twenty- eight individual teaching spaces, practice rooms, workshops, studio and a recording studio. There will also be unique access to a comprehensive music information service with on-site and on-line facilities covering practical, historical and technical information about music. The spectacular concourse, wrapping round three sides of the building will be open all day to visitors and will include bars, cafs, a restaurant, box office and retail facilities, with unrivalled views across the River Tyne.
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