New York · Midtown
Carnegie Hall
Built by a steel fortune in 1891, saved from demolition by a violinist in 1960
The Stern Auditorium, five tiers of curved white and gold with famously forgiving acoustics
Andrew Carnegie paid for it, Tchaikovsky conducted at the opening week in 1891, and by 1960 it was scheduled for demolition to make way for an office block until the violinist Isaac Stern led a campaign that saved it. The main auditorium is a five-tier oval with a warmth that flatters almost everything played in it.
Three halls operate here: the Stern for orchestras, Zankel below ground for contemporary and jazz, and the small Weill for recitals and debuts.
The detail
Good to know
- Opened
- 1891
- Saved
- 1960, campaign led by Isaac Stern
- Halls
- Stern, Zankel and Weill
- Main hall
- 2 804 seats
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