[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3019]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              THE SESQUICENTENNIAL OF THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC

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                           HON. CHAKA FATTAH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 31, 2007

  Mr. FATTAH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 150th 
Anniversary of the grand opening of Philadelphia's Academy of Music--
our ``Grand Old Lady of Locust Street.'' Since January 26, 1857, the 
Academy has hosted more than one billion attendees at almost half a 
million performances. Generations of the region's children have sat in 
her elegant auditorium and caught their breath as the curtain rose on 
their first experience of an opera or ballet performance. Millions of 
them have sat up in wonder as they heard The Philadelphia Orchestra's 
rousing sounds for the first time. Hundreds of thousands of 
Philadelphians have walked proudly across the Academy's stage to accept 
their commencement certificate. Audiences and artists alike have 
flocked to Philadelphia from around the world because of the Academy of 
Music.-
  What a remarkable legacy for one building--a legacy that has a deeply 
personal meaning for many generations of the region's families who 
share memories of attending special events within her walls; a legacy 
that laid the foundation on which the city created the Avenue of the 
Arts, built the shining new Kimmel Center, and made Philadelphia one of 
the most vibrant cultural destinations in the world; a legacy of which 
all Philadelphia--area residents can be proud.
  The Academy of Music 150th Anniversary Concert and Ball, held on 
January 27, 2007, reflected many facets of the Academy's rich history. 
World--renowned artists host Tom Brokaw, soprano Deborah Voigt, tenor 
Ben Heppner and vocalists John Lithgow, with Music Director Christoph 
Eschenbach and our own celebrated Philadelphia Orchestra and 
Philadelphia Singers, presented an outstanding program of grand opera, 
theater, Broadway, classical and popular music.
  The concert was attended by over 2,400 of the region's political, 
civic and corporate leaders as well as special guests Their Royal 
Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. Even the 
Prince's visit has a historical precedent in the Academy's rich past: 
his great, great grandfather, Edward VII, was one of the early visiting 
dignitaries to grace the Academy at a gala performance by the popular 
soprano Adelina Patti in 1860. The Prince of Wales will sit in the same 
box, dubbed ``the Prince of Wales Box'' since the 1860 visit that his 
ancestor occupied before him.
  I congratulate the Academy on its sesquicentennial and look forward 
to many more years of important cultural contributions to our city.

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