Back in 1955, our favourite province celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding by ordering the construction of two auditoria-one in Edmonton and the other in Calgary. Impressive facilities, Calgary's "Southern Jubilee" and Edmonton's "Northern Jubilee" have lured countless world-class performers, local high-school and college graduation ceremonies, and community and cultural events for four decades. In 1978, the "Jube" even hosted weight-lifting for the Commonwealth Games, an event attended by Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
It seems wonderfully appropriate that in 2005, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the auditoria and Alberta's 100th birthday, the Northern and the Southern Jubilee Auditoria have been completely overhauled to offer aesthetic, acoustic and truly majestic concert venues.
The Jubes reopen on September 1 in both Edmonton and Calgary, with a gala concert linked between both cities. The galas, now sold out, will offer attendees the first public viewing of the $72 million upgrades. Expect a 2534-person seating capacity in each main hall and major improvements to heating, ventilation, air conditioning, seating, acoustics, and interior finishes.
Get more information on the upgrades or about the venues' new structural specifications.
You'll get your chance. If not September 1, you have many years to attend future Broadway shows, music concerts, ballet and opera performances by our province's Calgary Opera and Alberta Ballet and visiting companies, and much more.