In this story from Dateline UC Davis' special section, "Celebrating the Arts," Oct. 11, 2002, then-Editor Amy Agronis reports on the Mondavi Center's gala opening concert.

By Amy Agronis

If reaction to its Oct. 3 gala opening concert is any indication, the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts — in addition to bringing world-class performances and exceptional learning opportunities to campus — will foster a markedly heightened sense of community among area residents and perhaps even redefine a bit what it means to be a Davisite.

The San Francisco Symphony christened the campus venue, reprising its role from 40 years ago when it opened Freeborn Hall. And conductor Michael Tilson Thomas led the symphony in works including his brand-new Urban Legend.

But the main attractions were, indeed, the Mondavi Center and the campus community members themselves — women donning furs, lame jackets and shimmering floor-length gowns; and men looking stately in black tie.

Several attendees remarked how the center’s bustling lobby was full of familiar faces, many of whom they hadn’t seen in some time.

"I think it’s probably drawing back people who have strayed from the campus," said Dick Frost, assistant vice chancellor of finance at UC Davis from 1960 to '90.

Attendees also said they were glad to see a great number of students at the gala, including almost all the members of the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra.

Fostering a ‘cultural enlightenment’

Earlier Thursday, during ribbon-cutting ceremonies, Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef had said the center would be a great asset that would increase the marketability of the campus.

Indeed, in the days following last week’s concert, Mondavi Center has received rave reviews from local and regional broadcast and print media including the San Francisco Chronicle, The Sacramento Bee, the San Francisco Classical Voice and The Davis Enterprise.

And the city stands to gain as well, it would seem. One concertgoer said the new center clinched her decision to move to Davis.

Lynda Goff, vice provost and dean for Undergraduate Education at UC Santa Cruz, said this summer she purchased a house in Davis as an investment. She now plans to move into that home when she retires. "This center is going to make this city," Goff said. "You can just feel it."

Goff believes the center will prove itself a catalyst for bringing even more "cultural enlightenment" to Davis. "I think this is going to be the Carmel of the Central Valley — a mecca for artists and the arts," she said.

All in attendance seemed to appreciate the glamour of the evening.

"There’s something very civil about taking an hour to get ready," Goff said. "I love seeing people in black tie. It’s just great fun."

Pat Turner, vice provost for Undergraduate Studies, agreed. "I love pageantry," she said. "I’m a folklorist by training; so I really believe in ritual and ceremony."

Turner believes the new center won’t undermine the identity of Davis as much as it will add a new dimension to it. "I think we can wear our Birkenstocks and I think we can wear our tuxedos, too," she said.

Jeanne Cooke, a seven-year resident of the city, also enjoyed the chance to don some finery. "We’ve never had a reason to do anything like this in Davis before," she said.

Well, at least not since the days of the Goose Stew, said former staff member Patty Goss. She and her husband, John, a retired agricultural engineering professor, have lived in Davis since 1951.

Goss said that until Thursday’s gala there wasn’t any other local venue that had brought people together in quite the same way for almost a decade — since the annual black tie, December holiday stews. "Freeborn Hall was just decked out to the nth degree. It was always the social event of the season.

"I’m so excited that we have a real concert hall and an occasion to dress up again," she said.

A ‘special occasion’ indeed

A true measure of a hall, said Tilson Thomas, is its response to bass instruments. He put Mondavi Center to the test with his Urban Legend. The 16-minute staccato-laden composition showcases the most bass of bass instruments — the contrabassoon.

The symphony went on to also play Bela Bartok’s half-hour-long Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta before intermission.

Richard Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben, in the second half of the show, featured a solo by concertmaster Alexander Barantschik, performing on "The David." Valued at $6 million, the Italian-made violin was constructed in 1742 by Joseph Guarnerius. It belonged to the late Jascha Heifetz, oft considered the best violinist of the 20th century. Heifetz, who died in 1987, bequeathed the instrument to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, ordering that it be used "on special occasions by worthy performers."

The evening of Oct. 3 certainly met the "special occasions" criteria.

"The thing that’s been missing is this," said an exuberant Kern Holoman, motioning to the diverse audience. He said he was wowed by the view from outside the hall that night. Not the building, per se, but the three floors of campus community members — conversing, reconnecting and laughing together — visible through Mondavi Center’s glass facade.

"I’ve got a mailbox full of cards and letters saying this is a golden moment for us. I believe it’s true," Holoman said.

"The proof is in the pudding," said Margrit Mondavi. She considered the dish being served by hall and symphony together that night absolutely delicious. "What an occasion to celebrate," Mondavi said. She and Robert Mondavi agreed: "(The center) is going to be a great place to come and see and hear the best artists in the world."

"We’re going to be here as often as we can," Margrit said.

A reality surpassing the dream

During a rousing section of Ein Heldenleben, Carol Anne Muncaster smiled broadly, reached over and clasped her hands around those of her husband, Brian McCurdy, director of the Mondavi Center. "I was thinking, ‘We’re here. We’ve done it. It’s a reality, and it’s a very special reality,’" Muncaster said.

"I’m kind of speechless," McCurdy said. "It’s a dream we’ve both been living for three years," he said, noting that the reality has turned out even better than the dream.

Tilson Thomas shared McCurdy’s enthusiasm. "You have a wonderful new instrument — this hall," he announced after the concert.

The Mondavi Center also was widely praised for its eye appeal. "It’s in very good taste. Clean lines. I love it," said Richard Brunelle, who was for 30 years director of music at Davis High School.

"Great musicians want to come to halls like this," said Sacramento County Supervisor Muriel Johnson. "It sounds as good as it looks," she added, saying, "I feel like I’ve been transported. I could be in Sydney; I could be in New York; I could be in Davis."

Vanderhoef said in both appearance and acoustics the center had turned out better than he had ever imagined. "I feel like somebody’s looking down on us and saying, ‘You deserve this.’"

The center won’t simply benefit arts and humanities programs, Vanderhoef said. "It will bring people together," he said. "It will be an inspiration for all our faculty, staff and students, as well as the community."

Picture-perfect day complements 'historic' day