Sting joins Kathryn Tickell for Sage birthday extravaganza
Jun 10 2009 by David Whetstone, The Journal
More than 2,000 performances have taken place at The Sage Gateshead since 2004. David Whetstone reports on some special ones to mark the landmark venue’s fifth birthday
In December the piper takes up her new role as artistic director of Folkworks, one of the founding partners of The Sage Gateshead. The £70m building was the first such venue designed by Foster and Partners, the firm of celebrated architect Sir Norman Foster.
The stated mission of The Sage Gateshead was to bring about a widespread and lasting enrichment of music through performance, learning and participation.
Instead of a formal opening ceremony five years ago, the new landmark building was thrown open to local people, with 15,000 of them flocking to sample a wide range of taster performances.
Looking back, general director Anthony Sargent said: "Above all the awards and international recognition The Sage Gateshead has won in these first five teeming years is the way it has so quickly been taken to the heart of our local community.
"It was our local community who unforgettably opened The Sage Gateshead that frosty December night in 2004 and we’ve designed this celebratory weekend, with its wonderful line-up of exceptional musicians, with our local communities, audiences and learners in mind."
Gateshead Council leader Mick Henry said it was now impossible to think of the Gateshead skyline without The Sage Gateshead. Mark Robinson, executive director of Arts Council England, North East, said: "We are proud of our investment in this world-class music venue which has pioneered innovative approaches to learning and participation."
He said it had also provided a fitting home for the Northern Sinfonia orchestra and brought internationally renowned musicians to the region.
Over the birthday weekend the artists mentioned will perform in a series of concerts. Some tickets are already on sale (others will follow) via www.thesagegateshead.co.uk.
You are invited to email your own stories about The Sage Gateshead to happy.birthday@ thesagegateshead.org or to get in touch with the venue if you share its birthday, December 17.
