Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • FALL 2017 • PAN PIPES 37 A WORLD OF MUSIC By Jayne I. Hanlin F rom 1892 until 1962, the New York Philharmonic's home was Carnegie Hall. I was privileged to attend several concerts of this resident orchestra. e most memorable one was in March of 1962 with my late brother, concert pianist Malcolm Frager, performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Opus 19 under the baton of Maestro William Steinberg. But this was not Malcolm's only orchestral appearance as a soloist in Carnegie Hall. It was also the site of his performances with other major symphonic orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, and Cleveland Orchestra, to name a few. And because he lived two-and-a-half blocks away, he could walk to work for these rehearsals and appearances. is prestigious New York venue was built by Andrew Carnegie, the wealthy steel magnate and philanthropist. Its opening week festival from May 5-9, 1891, featured renowned Russian composer Peter Tchaikovsky, conducting five of his own pieces. In 1962, the New York Philharmonic moved to Lincoln Center, and beginning in 1986, Carnegie Hall underwent a significant renovation. On a recent trip to the Big Apple, I was looking forward to going back to Carnegie Hall to see the changes. It had been 55 years since I'd last visited. Even then, I'd never seen the apartments on the upper floors of the towers. For those who have a tour to Carnegie Hall on their "bucket list", it's a good idea to check tour availability in advance. Every Friday morning, the public tours for the following week are posted on the Carnegie Hall website. Usually they are daily at 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:00 PM, and 3:00 PM. Prices are $17 for adults, and $12 for students, seniors over 62, and children 12 and younger. Unfortunately I hadn't checked before I arrived in the lobby of the imposing structure at 154 West 57th Street. Only then did I discover there were no tours that day, my last one in the city. Of course, there was a legitimate reason why: Inside the Isaac Stern Auditorium, Daniel Barenboim and the Staatskapelle Berlin orchestra were practicing Bruckner's Symphony No. 7 in E Major. ey were preparing for one of nine concerts in eleven days, all featuring a different one of this composer's symphonies. Also on the program was Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante in E-Flat Major, K. 364. In the audience that morning were Carnegie Hall Members who had been invited to listen to this open rehearsal. e woman in the box office recommended that I visit the Rose Museum, a gi of the Susan and Elihu Rose Foundation, which chronicles the history of Carnegie Hall. Although I'd never heard of the museum, I followed her advice. e entry was just one door away from the main entrance of Carnegie Hall. An elevator took me Richard Termine Historial items on display in the Carnegie Hall Rose Museum. A Rose By Any Other Name Could Not Be Sweeter A World of Music A World of A World of Music ROSE continued on page 38

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