Carnegie Hall

Where every finest artist wants to be

Top Classical, November 2020
Since it opened in 1891, when composer Tchaikovsky took to the stage to conduct his work on opening night, Carnegie Hall has set the international standard for musical excellence as the aspirational destination for the world’s finest artists.

From Tchaikovsky, Dvořák, Mahler, and Bartók to George Gershwin, Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Judy Garland, and The Beatles, an honor roll of music-making artists representing the finest of every genre has filled Carnegie Hall throughout the years.

Gino Francesconi, the hall’s director of archives, estimates that 50,000 performances have taken place in the building, which includes two smaller venues besides the main hall. In fact, Francesconi said, “I think we’ve had more events here than any other theater on the planet.”

It was steel magnate Andrew Carnegie who was inspired to build Carnegie Hall by his new wife, Louise, singer in the Oratorio Society of New York. The hall was designed by William Burnet Tuthill, a professional architect and cellist who had never built a concert hall before. The opening ceremony was on May 5, 1891, with a spectacular concert that featured the now world famous Russian composer Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky, conducting his own music in his American debut. Since then, many first line artists have proudly performed there. Not only the greatest classical, jazz, and popular musicians, but also for the foremost comedians, authors, social crusaders, world figures, and orators of our time.

There was a time tough, that Carnegie Hall, having fallen into disrepair in the late 1950s, was once slated for demotion. The building was saved only when bought in 1960 by the City of New York after a major campaign led by renowned violinist Isaac Stern.

Today, Carnegie Hall presents a wide range of exceptional musical performances together with each season on its three great stages: the renowned Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, the intimate Weill Recital Hall, and the innovative Zankel Hall. Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute creates and social impact programs vastly followed by people and around the globe, playing a central role in the Hall’s commitment to making great music accessible to as many people as possible.

For this year’s season the hall had planned to welcome featured artists such as Rhiannon Giddens, Jordi Savall, Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Andrew Norman. However, in June 2020 Carnegie Hall announced that, due to COVID-19, all programming for the rest of the year will be canceled. The venerable institution plans to resume operations January 7, 2021. “This was a very difficult decision for us to make, however the safety of Carnegie Hall’s artists, audiences, and staff is paramount,“ said Clive Gillinson, Executive and Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall. The venue intends to expand its digital offerings, including remote concerts from musicians at home, interview and feature series, and public access of archived recordings.