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ARMSTRONG AUDITORIUM RIVALS EUROPEAN PALACES

Published July 1, 2010

OKC FRIDAY
By VICKI CLARK

(In the print edition this callout box appeared: "Oklahomans are slowly recognizing that they no longer need to travel to Europe for the finest experiences in the performing arts. One of the world's greatest cultural centers is right here.")

There is an interesting story behind the palatial concert hall at Waterloo and Bryant in Edmond.

The Armstrong Auditorium is reminiscent of the great concert halls of Europe. Dazzling richness set on the Oklahoma prairie will bring the world's greatest classical music stars to the heartland.

Swarovski crystal glass that lets light refract in a rainbow spectrum adorns the massive lobby chandeliers and brings the ambience of Austrian opulence with it. The grand lobby overlooks the soaring Swans in Flight, a bronze-and-steel sculpture installed in a 120-foot-long reflecting pool.

Renowned sculptor, Sir David Wynne and Herbert W. Armstrong first unveiled the massive sculpture in 1968 at the Texas campus of Ambassador College.

Armstrong founded the Worldwide Church of God in the late 1930s, as well as Ambassador College (later Ambassador University) in 1946, and was an early pioneer of radio and tele-evangelism. He also founded the Ambassador International Cultural Foundation, which promoted the arts, humanities, and humanitarian projects.

Even though his ministry was controversial, Armstrong became recognized for and met with world leaders about his cultural foundation’s good works.

After his death, the church split and The Philadelphia Church of God Pastor General Gerald Flurry continued his ministry in Edmond. This branch continued Armstrong’s Cultural Foundation work, bringing together art and artistry from the Armstrong legacy.

The Swans in Flight sculpture had an Oklahoma connection long before it arrived in Edmond. After the demise of Ambassador College, the Worldwide Church of God eventually sold the 1,600-acre Texas campus in 2000 to the Green Family Trust, owner of Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., of Oklahoma City, for an undisclosed sum.

The Greens then transferred ownership to the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), a nonprofit educational ministry. In November 2008, the Armstrong Foundation contacted the IBLP to inquire about purchasing the Swans in Flight sculpture. After several months of negotiations, the parties reached an agreement.

The swans, each weighing approximately three-quarters of a ton with wingspans from 13 to 15 feet, were disassembled and transported from Texas to Oklahoma, where they underwent minor repairs and refinishing at The Crucible Foundry before being installed in their new home in front of Armstrong Auditorium. Situated in a 40,000-gallon reflecting pool, they appear to soar into flight as six water jets cascade over them.

In 1995, the Pasadena Ambassador Auditorium closed its doors and was put up for sale. However, Armstrong’s legacy found new life in Edmond in 1996.In 2004, the foundation obtained some of the treasures that were considered the crown jewels of the Pasadena auditorium and they now grace the Edmond auditorium. Two seven-foot crystal candelabra stand in front of onyx walls. Used by the Shah of Iran for the 2,500-year anniversary of the Persian Empire, each candelabra weighs 650 pounds and consists of 803 pieces handmade in Baccarat France.

Also, the new stage houses two of the finest pianos in the world, both nine-foot Model D concert grands from the Steinway & Sons factory in Hamburg, Germany.

With all its crystal, Spanish marble, Persian Onyx, American cherry wood and art, the Armstrong Auditorium is worth visiting for its architectural elegance. However, it is during performances that it comes alive.

Armstrong Auditorium is arguably, the finest acoustical projection and balance venue in the world. The ratio comparing the volume of the hall to each seat is more ideal at Armstrong than at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Boston’s Symphony Hall and Vienna's Musikverein, the three world standards engineers use to measure acoustic quality, thus their slogan, “Concert-going as it's meant to be.” The $20 million auditorium seats 823 persons. There is no such thing as a bad seat.

The 2011-12 concert season begins Sunday and many performances are already selling out.

Read the full article as it appeared in OKC Friday.