LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Saratoga
Performing Arts Center on July 8, 2016

WHEREAS, The arts, in whatever form depicted, are central to human
expression; they are truly a universal language and their contribution
to the development of friendship and understanding among all peoples
cannot be overestimated; and
WHEREAS, The history, the heritage, and the lives of the people of all
countries and all cultures are portrayed in their music and dance; the
art and act of sharing them enriches us altogether; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those illustrious organizations that have brought entertainment
and cultural enrichment to the citizens of the great State of New York;
and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 50th Anniversary of Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Sarato-
ga Springs, New York, on Friday, July 8, 2016; and
WHEREAS, This auspicious milestone will be celebrated throughout the
2016 summer season with a myriad of events including the World Premiere
by the Twyla Tharp Dance Company, a two-day engagement by the award
winning Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, a New York City Ballet World Premiere
ballet by Justin Peck, and a Philadelphia Orchestra World Premiere of
composer Michael Torke's "Unconquered"; and
WHEREAS, In early February 1961, Albany newspaperman Duane La Fleche
noted a wire service report about a group hoping to entice New York
Philharmonic to make Stowe, Vermont, its summer residence; and
WHEREAS, This report set off a chain reaction of historic proportions;
local civic, cultural and legislative leaders, who had previously
considered a Saratoga Arts Center an interesting possibility, were
galvanized into action; within a week, they held their first meeting,
and within a month, they were focusing on Saratoga Spa State Park as the
site; and
WHEREAS, The group funded start-up costs out of their own pockets;
then came the more formidable challenge of demonstrating community-wide
support to foundations and philanthropists; the community came through
in record time; and
WHEREAS, By the summer of 1963, generous contributions from Rockefel-
ler Brothers Fund and New York State supplemented community support to
ensure that the dream would become reality; and
WHEREAS, The New York City Ballet's George Balanchine joined the
development board, and together with Lincoln Kirstein helped define both
the physical form and artistic agenda of the Saratoga Performing Arts
Center; soon, the Philadelphia Orchestra came into the picture, with
artistic director Eugene Ormandy offering his input; and
WHEREAS, In February of 1964, Richard Leach became the first Executive
Director of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, adding his programming
experience at Lincoln Center to the mix; shortly thereafter, the Phila-
delphia Orchestra and New York City Ballet formalized their commitments,
and construction could begin; and
WHEREAS, On July 8, 1966, New York City Ballet Conductor Robert Irving
raised his baton, and George Balanchine's "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
enchanted the opening night audience at the Saratoga Performing Arts
Center; this inaugural performance was the start of the longest running
summer residency for a ballet company in the Nation; and

WHEREAS, Less than a month later, Eugene Ormandy raised his baton to
lead the Philadelphia Orchestra in Beethoven's "Consecration of the
House Overture," a fitting tribute to the new Amphitheatre; and
WHEREAS, Framed by rolling lawns, majestic pines and rushing streams,
SPAC's Amphitheatre, situated in a naturally curved hillside in the
center of the 2,200-acre Saratoga Spa State Park, has been an ideal
showcase for internationally acclaimed music and dance artists for five
decades; and
WHEREAS, The spectacular Amphitheatre offers covered seating for 5,200
and the surrounding lawn can accommodate an additional audience of
20,000; each season more than 350,000 people pass through SPAC's gates;
and
WHEREAS, From its inception, SPAC's growth, success and stature has
been intertwined with that of its founding resident companies, the New
York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra, two of the world's
foremost artistic organizations; and
WHEREAS, In 2014, the circle of partners grew to include the Chamber
Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Nation's premier chamber music
organization, which makes SPAC's Little Theatre its summer home each
August; and
WHEREAS, Other annual highlights of the summer season include the
iconic Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival which was founded at SPAC in
1978, by jazz impresario George Wein; a star-studded concert series by
Live Nation; professional opera productions by Opera Saratoga, and
renowned modern dance programming; the final curtain of the SPAC season
comes down in early September with the Annual Saratoga Wine and Food
Festival; and
WHEREAS, Through the years, numerous talented and popular bands and
musicians have graced the Amphitheatre's stage; in 1967, SPAC's first
special performance was Harry Belafonte, and one year later, 18 world-
renowned acts, such as Simon & Garfunkel, Diana Ross and the Supremes,
the Bee Gees and the Doors electrified music fans; and
WHEREAS, In 1971, the Who performed for 33,000 rock lovers, a record
broken twice by the Grateful Dead in the 1980s; in 1983, 537,754 people
attended SPAC during its summer season, a record which still holds
today; and
WHEREAS, Today, under the luminous leadership of President and Execu-
tive Officer, Marcia White, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center contin-
ues to present vibrant and diverse artistic performances which engage
and enrich its community; and
WHEREAS, It is most fitting that we take time to celebrate the arts of
our Nation, to honor our artists, and to express our appreciation to
.SO DOC A R1527 RESO TEXT 2015
everyone who patronizes the arts; and as we celebrate the arts, we cele-
brate and give thanks to our American freedom, the only atmosphere in
which artists can truly create and in which art is truly the expression
of the soul; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Saratoga Performing Arts Center, upon the occasion of commem-
orating its 50th Anniversary, fully confident that it will continue to
enjoy the sparkling success which has so characterized its past; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Marcia White, President and Executive Director, Saratoga
Performing Arts Center.