What do Tchaikovsky, Strauss, Einstein, Judy Garland, The Beatles, Churchill, and Martin Luther King, Jr. have in common? They have all taken stage at Carnegie Hall.
Thanks largely to funding by prosperous New York City merchant Andrew Carnegie, the hall opened in May 1891. Originally featuring classical artists, Carnegie Hall has also hosted popular musicians, authors, politicians, intellectual leaders, and political activists. Chief architect and cellist William Burnet Tuthill designed the building, from its Italian Renaissance-inspired terracotta and brick exterior to its elegantly symmetrical auditoriums inside.
The famed Isaac Stern Auditorium provides a first-class audio-visual experience for witnessing the world's greatest in music, theatre, and dance. Rich red carpeting, cream-colored walls, a curvilinear ceiling bejeweled with a massive dome light, and an arched stage at the focal point all contribute to the auditorium's allure. Five levels of seating accommodate up to 2,804 spectators on the parquet and in the gracefully sweeping tiers and balconies. Browse the First Tier Gallery during intermission to view the autographed photos of many of those who have performed here.
Joan and Sanford I. Weill Recital Hall, seating 268, provides more intimate performances with plush velvet chairs, luxurious drapery and chandeliers, and an ornately sculpted high arched ceiling. Judy and Arthur Zankell Hall, opened in 2003, features a more modern atmosphere with a muted color scheme, paneled walls, and interchangeable stage configurations with varying seating capacities.
Take a guided tour or explore the free-of-charge Rose Museum on the second floor for more information about Carnegie Hall's history, featured exhibits, and archives.
Attraction Information
- Box Office Hours:
- Monday through Saturday: 11am to 6pm, Sunday: 12pm to 6pm
- The Rose Museum: 11am to 4:30pm daily
- Admission:
- Admission prices vary, check website for details
- Subway Stop:
- A, B, C, D, 1 trains to Columbus Circle
- N, Q, R, W trains to the 57th Street/7th Avenue Station
- E train to the 7th Avenue Station
- Contact:
- Location: Box Office, 57th Street and 7th Avenue; The Rose Museum, entrance at 154 West 57th Street
- Phone: Tickets, 212-247-7800; Call for tour information, 212-903-9765
- Website: www.carnegiehall.org
