December 7, 2012 - Anniversary of the first concert by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra

nThenNew York Philharmonic is the oldest professional orchestra in thenU.S. It played its first concert on this date in 1842—and itsn15,000 concert in 2010! No other orchestra comes close to thatnrecord!
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nThatnfirst concert was held at the Apollo Rooms in what is now TriBeCa, innlower Manhattan. Guests had to pay 83 cents apiece. Now, we all “get”nthat 83 cents used to buy a lot more in those days—it won’t evennget you a bottle of water or can of soda, most places, thesendays!—but surely even then it was an awkward sum to have charged. Inguess 3 quarters, one nickel, and three pennies would do it…but whynnot 80 or 85 cents??!

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nThenmusicians wore formal wear and white gloves and greeted the 600nguests as they entered the room. When the music began, all thenmusicians remained standing as they played, except the cellists. Thatnwas the fashion then. Itnwas, perhaps, grueling to play for THREE HOURS while standing!

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Firstnon the concert program was a work that was new to most of thenlisteners: Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. The orchestra also playednchamber music and several operatic pieces—with a vocalist, ofncourse. n

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nOnenthing that is interesting about this first concert is that thenmusicians voted on which pieces they would play and who wouldnconduct. The orchestra members also voted when new musicians wishednto join. At the end of the season, all the musicians would divide anynproceeds (profits) among themselves.

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n(I’mnpretty sure the NY Philharmonic doesn’t operate in such a democraticnfashion any more!)

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