Massey Hall reopens after massive modernization that preserves iconic music venue's magic
CBC
Jim Cuddy couldn't hide his enthusiasm when he got his first look at the newly renovated Massey Hall this week.
"It's so amazing. It's beautiful," he said as he walked out on stage.
The songwriter, singer and guitarist for Blue Rodeo was on a private tour of the iconic Toronto music venue with Massey Hall CEO Jesse Kumagai and the CBC's Eli Glasner. It was three days away from the Nov. 25 reopening, and construction workers and sound engineers were still installing seats and setting up equipment to get the hall ready for the first audience since it closed for renovations in June 2018.
"I can't wait to play here," said Cuddy, whose band has performed at the legendary hall dozens of times. "I can't wait to see somebody here. It feels like it got an incredible shine, but it doesn't feel that different."
WATCH | Jim Cuddy gets his first look at the results of the Massey Hall renovation as the project nears completion:
From the stage, the feel may be familiar to Cuddy — but much has changed.
The brand new floor seats are now retractable, allowing for general admission at some shows. Stained glass windows that had been covered up with plywood since the early 1900s have been carefully restored. And the plaster ceiling, once covered in dusty chicken wire to protect audiences from falling debris, has been precisely repaired.
The stage has also been completely rebuilt and the entire ground level has been raised, bringing the stage closer to the balcony and gallery seats. All this had to be done without affecting what many refer to as the magic of Massey Hall.
"We wanted to make sure we weren't doing anything that was going to change that for the audience," Kumagai said.
The goal of restoring a 127-year-old building, preserving its character while also updating it to suit today's needs, was a monumental task — one that was not only done under the scrutiny of heritage departments and building inspectors, but also many of Canada's top musicians and music historians.
Industrialist Hart Massey commissioned the hall in 1894, as a gift to the city of Toronto. The world-famous building is steeped in history and lore.
It was constructed primarily for musical performances and has held some great and varied ones, from Enrico Caruso to AC/DC to Tanya Tagaq.
It's also known for historically significant live recordings, including The Greatest Jazz Concert Ever, Neil Young: Live at Massey Hall and Rush's All the World's a Stage.
It was home to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for 60 years. Massey Hall also hosted political rallies, and even sporting events such as wrestling and boxing.
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