The most famous of the concert halls is located in New York, at the intersection of two streets of Manhattan. This is Carnegie Hall, named after the multimillionaire who allocated money for the construction of the building. The halls hold mainly concerts of classical music, sometimes they also perform jazz and some other directions. Musicians who performed at this concert venue overnight become world famous.
History
Inspired by the idea to build the best musical theater in New York for instrumental musicians, E. Carnegie finances the project and employs true professionals. It was necessary to clearly plan the size of the room, the area, the height of the ceilings. Every little thing was important to create good acoustics. The project was carried out by W. Tathill, who managed to create a unique building. The acoustics of space still remains at the highest level. It is worth noting that the construction of the facility took more than a million dollars.
Such a high cost was associated with some design features. As the main material, only masonry was used. The decoration was mixed terracotta and sandstone. The severity and simplicity of the exterior of the building contrasts with the richness and brightness in the interiors.
In the color scheme of the halls (and there are only three of them), red and gold shades are used. The luxury and magnificence of the atmosphere is emphasized by the light that floods the whole space. At the same time, the Carnegie Hall concert hall lacks bulky decor elements and large chandeliers that can adversely affect the acoustics.
Concerts
The opening of Carnegie Hall took place in May 1881. At the very first concert, an orchestra performed under the leadership of P. Tchaikovsky. Subsequently, L. Pavarotti, S. Rachmaninov, I. Stravinsky and many other world-famous musicians were on the same stage. And not only classical music was performed within the walls of the building. Over the years, you could see David Bowie, Bob Dylan, even groups such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Recently, some opera performances have been held in the music hall.
The presence of three halls allows holding several events at the same time in the building: from crowded performances to chamber concerts. In small rooms, sometimes there are lectures for beginner musicians and amateurs. Among the jazz performers who appeared on the Carnegie Hall stage, the names of Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday, and trumpeter Davis Miles are worth mentioning.
Halls
The main hall, named after A. Stern, accommodates up to 2800 people. The seats are located on five tiers. Do not worry if you do not get tickets in the front rows: from any place the sound quality will be perfect. In addition, viewers do not have to climb the balcony on foot, as the room is equipped with several elevators. However, it is worth hurrying with the purchase of tickets: it is likely that there will be no offers left a few days before the event.
The smaller halls accommodate up to 600 visitors in one and about 260 in the other. The middle one is listed as Zenkel Hall. The chairs in it stretch in a semicircle over a small stage. The small hall, despite its size, looks especially solemn.
The walls are covered with gilded paintings, the audience seats are traditionally bright scarlet.
Additional facilities and services
Once in Carnegie Hall, you can visit not only a concert, but also the library and museum located here. The latter appeared in 1991. This is a relatively small museum room where you can watch thematic videos and photographs. Those who wish can book a tour of the building. A guided walk will help you learn a lot of interesting facts about the history of the hall, as well as celebrities from the world of music. Inside the building there are also many separate rooms for artists and artists. Some people even live here for a while to prepare more carefully for the performance.
Concerts at Carnegie Hall sometimes take several hours, and visitors after the event go to dinner at one of the nearest venues. There are several good restaurants nearby. Classic pizza can be tasted at Trattoria Del Arte or the Europa Cafe. Tourists from Russia will be interested in visiting the Russian Tea House, a well-known restaurant that has existed in Manhattan for 90 years.
What else is nearby?
Outside, you can see the multi-story office building adjacent to Carnegie Hall. Its height is 231 m. The skyscraper is painted in the same colors as the concert hall, so that the buildings look like a whole. Behind it is another tall house called the Metropolitan Tower. Both towers fit perfectly into the composition of the Midtown area.
Arriving in New York, you must definitely go along the legendary Seventh Avenue. It houses fashionable ateliers and salons, a Madison Square Garden sports complex, as well as the famous Pennsylvania Hotel. There are always a lot of pedestrians on one of the main streets of the city, especially near Times Square. More than one feature film was shot here, and tourists rush to take pictures against the backdrop of local attractions. On Seventh Avenue you can meet people from different parts of the world, people of different nationalities and faiths.
How to get to Carnegie Hall: some tips
The desire of beginners and successful musicians to get into one of the best concert halls on the planet is understandable. But if you can’t find yourself on the stage of Carnegie Hall in New York, you should try to visit the complex at least as a spectator.
Being in the city, getting to your destination is easy, and you can do this on any form of transport. The most convenient way is to get on the subway. For example, if you move along line F, the end station will be “7th Avenue”. Also, several buses follow: M7, M10, M57, M104; the desired stopping point will be visible from the transport window.
You should take care in advance of purchasing concert tickets - unless, of course, the purpose of the visit is to tour the halls. It’s best to choose places and book them online. Payment can be made by electronic money or in a special terminal. Due to the availability of benefits, the cost varies. By the way, for students, tickets are sold at lower prices.