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 provided money for the construction of the building. In the halls, mainly concerts of classical music are held, sometimes jazz and some other styles are also performed. The musicians who performed works at this concert venue become world famous overnight.
History
Inspired by the idea to build New York's best musical theater for instrumental performers, E. Carnegie finances the project and hires real professionals. It was necessary to clearly plan the size of the room, the area, the height of the ceilings. To create good acoustics, every little thing was important. The project was carried out by W. Tuthill, who managed to create a unique building. The acoustics of the space is still at the highest level. It is worth noting that over a million dollars was spent on the construction of the structure.
Such a high cost was associated with some design features. The main material used was onlymasonry. The decoration was made by mixed terracotta and sandstone. The severity and simplicity of the external appearance of the building contrast with the richness and brightness of the interiors.
In the color design of the halls (there are three of them in total), red and gold shades are used. The luxury and splendor of the setting is emphasized by the light flooding the entire space. At the same time, there are no bulky decor elements and large chandeliers in the Carnegie Hall concert hall, which can negatively affect the acoustics.
Concerts
The opening of Carnegie Hall took place in May 1881. At the very first concert, an orchestra led by P. Tchaikovsky performed. 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 such groups as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones here. Lately the music hall has been hosting some opera productions.
The presence of three halls allows holding several events in the building at the same time: from crowded performances to chamber concerts. Lectures are sometimes held in small rooms for novice musicians and amateurs. Of the jazz performers who appeared on the stage of Carnegie Hall, it is worth mentioning the names of Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday, trumpeter Davis Miles.
Halls
The main hall, named after A. Stern, can accommodate up to 2800 people. Seats are located on five tiers. Don't worry if you don't get ittickets to the front rows: from any seat, the sound quality will be perfect. In addition, viewers will not have to climb the balcony on foot, as the room is equipped with several elevators. However, you should hurry up with buying tickets: there is a high probability that there will be no offers left a few days before the event.
Smaller halls accommodate up to 600 visitors in one and about 260 in the other. The middle one is listed as Zenkel Hall. Armchairs 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 chairs are traditionally bright scarlet.
Additional facilities and services
Once in Carnegie Hall, you can visit not only the concert, but also the library and museum located here. The last one appeared in 1991. This is a relatively small museum space where you can watch thematic videos and photographs. Those interested can sign up for a tour of the building. A guided walk will help you learn many interesting facts about the history of the hall, as well as about celebrities from the world of music. Inside the structure, there are also many separate rooms for entertainers 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 nearby venues. Nearby there isseveral good restaurants. Classic pizza can be tasted at Trattoria Del Arte or Europe Cafe. Tourists from Russia will be interested in visiting the Russian Tea Room, a famous restaurant that has existed in Manhattan for 90 years.
What else is nearby?
From the outside you can see a multi-storey 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 single whole. Behind him is another tall building called the Metropolitan Tower. Both towers fit perfectly into the composition of the Midtown area.
Arriving in New York, you must definitely walk along the legendary Seventh Avenue. It houses fashion ateliers and salons, the 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 filmed here, and tourists rush to take pictures against the backdrop of local attractions. On Seventh Avenue you can meet people from all over the world, people of various nationalities and faiths.
How to get to Carnegie Hall: some tips
The desire of beginners and accomplished musicians to get into one of the best concert halls on the planet is quite 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 doing itpossible on any mode of transport. The most convenient way is to take the subway. For example, if you move on the F line, the final station will be "7th Avenue". Several buses also pass by: M7, M10, M57, M104; the desired stopping point will be visible from the transport window.
You should take care of purchasing tickets for the concert in advance - unless, of course, the purpose of the visit is a tour of the halls. It is best to choose seats and book them online. Payment can be made by electronic money or in a special terminal. Costs vary due to availability. By the way, tickets are sold at lower prices for students.
