Opening Carnegie Hall: The Creation and First Performances of America's Premier Concert Stage

by Carol J. Binkowski

Overview

Carnegie Hall is recognized worldwide, associated with the heights of artistic achievement and a multitude of famous performers. Yet its beginnings are not so well known. In 1887, a chance encounter on a steamship bound for Europe brought young conductor Walter Damrosch together with millionaire philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and his new wife, Louise. Their subsequent friendship led to the building of this groundbreaking concert space. This book provides the first comprehensive account of the conception and building of Carnegie Hall, which culminated in a five-day opening festival in May 1891, featuring spectacular music, a host of performers and Tchaikovsky as a special guest conductor.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786498727
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	04/05/2016
Pages:	252
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Carol J. Binkowski is a musician, essayist, book reviewer (Library Journal) and nonfiction writer whose work has appeared in the New York Times and the Washington Post among others. She lives in Bloomfield, New Jersey.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Foreword Gino Francesconi 1

Introduction 3

1 Beginnings 9

2 Building 34

3 The First Notes Performed 59

4 Prelude to the Festival 84

5 Opening Night-Tuesday: May 5, 1891 101

6 Second Day-Wednesday: May 6, 1891 119

7 Third Day-Thursday: May 7, 1891 134

8 Fourth Day-Friday: May 8, 1891 149

9 Grand Finale-Saturday: May 9, 1891 163

10 Postlude 178

Epilogue 187

Appendix I Books for Further Study 189

Appendix II Online Resources 190

Chapter Notes 192

Bibliography 215

Index 235