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A Milestone for a New York Icon

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In honor of Carnegie Hall's 125th Anniversary, our own Fred Plotkin has contributed a column sharing his cherished memories of the venerable institution. Over the course of a century and a quarter, the hall has provided countless moments for performers and audiences. However, the hall stands for much more than just its history of great concerts. It's ingrained in the psyche of all New Yorkers. 

  • It's the topic of the city's most well-worn joke: How do you get to Carnegie Hall? (Hint: It doesn't require a map.)
  • When it was threatened by developers, a group led by Isaac Stern rallied the city to save it. The state passed special legislation so that it could complete the purchase of the building in 1960 for $5 million. Not a bad investment.
  • Four years later, New York City mayor Robert F. Wagner and Stewart Udall, U.S. secretary of the interior, presided over a ceremony dedicating Carnegie Hall as a national landmark. (Listen to the historical broadcast of the event).
  • Until 2010, residents of the its artist studios were subjects of endless fascination, including articles, photographs and at least one documentary. (Listen to archival recording of New York: A Portrait of Sound, featuring these residents and a pair of cats living above the hall).

On the occasion of the 1964 dedication, Wagner predicted that, "for many years to come, Carnegie Hall will bring cultural happiness and appreciation to not only our eight million New Yorkers, but our visitors from all over this country and from all over the world."

And check out WQXR morning host Jeff Spurgeon's interview with Carnegie Hall archivist, Gino Francesconi, about the building's history. 

LlSTEN:

2 pm — Continuing the celebration of James Levine, as he ends his tenure as music director at the Met, listen to him conduct Mozart's "Jupiter" Symphony.

9 pm — Pierre Boulez leads the New York Philharmonic in Mahler's massive Symphony No. 3. 

(Both on WQXR)

READ:

Critic James Jordan assesses a pair of one-act operas produced in New York City within the last week. (The Observer)

The Boston Symphony Orchestra inaugurates a partnership with the Leipzig Gewandhaus. (Boston Globe)

Eisenhower was president when this 94-year-old conductor, who will retire at the end of the season, started his tenure at the Brentwood-Westwood Symphony Orchestra. (Los Angeles Times)

An entire newspaper sections offers tips to the Metropolitan Opera on how to get more bodies through the doors. (The New York Times)

WATCH:

This story contains 50 classical music puns in 120 seconds. That's one pun every 2.6 seconds. We're impressed.

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