New stage for a new symphony

WHEN the Ventura-based New West Symphony makes its debut next Sunday at the Wadsworth Theatre on the Veterans Administration grounds in Brentwood, the musicians will also be breaking new ground: They’ll play on a new thrust stage similar to those used at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center and during last summer’s Mostly Mozart Festival at Avery Fisher Hall in New York.

“We’re building out a stage about 35 feet over the seats, so that the orchestra and the audience will be in the same room,” says founding conductor Boris Brott. “To a certain extent, it will be an experiment. From there we will know what to do to make the sound work to the best advantage.”

Formed in 1995 by Brott out of the dissolved Ventura County and Conejo symphonies, the New West Symphony serves as the resident orchestra of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza and the Oxnard center. Plans call for it to play three additional programs at the Wadsworth on Jan. 12, March 9 and April 6 and then, next season, to repeat the seven-concert series it will play in Thousand Oaks and Oxnard.

“Boris Brott has been a friend of mine for quite a few years,” says Richard Willis, who operates the Wadsworth. “About 2 1/2 years ago, I said to him, ‘Why not bring your orchestra to the Westside? There’s no local, convenient Westside symphony.’ They’re game to try it out, and so are we.”

Next Sunday’s concert is free, but ticket reservations are necessary. Call (310) 694-3550 or e-mail a name and phone number to wadsworth@newwest symphony.org.