Naumburg Orchestral Concerts

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The Naumburg Orchestral Concerts is the world's oldest continuous free outdoor classical music series. Founded in 1905 by philanthropist Elkan Naumburg, the summer series makes classical music accessible to all by presenting high-quality performances in an informal, handsome, natural, outdoor setting. [1]

The annual events are held at the Naumburg Bandshell, on Central Park's Concert Ground, in New York City. [2] When Elkan commissioned the Bandshell’s construction, he had inscribed on the building’s front, below the stage, “Presented to the City of New York and its Music Lovers by Elkan Naumburg”. The Bandshell, designed by 1916 and opened in 1923, was extensively repaired, re-roofed and re-opened in 2021 after several years of renovation. It was the most recent of several set of historic repairs to the cast and quarried limestone faced building. The Beaux-Arts style building is an excellent example of the 'city beautiful' movement, and the only structure of this moment and style in Central Park. [3]

Historically, the Naumburg Orchestral Concerts’ commitment to diverse talent was groundbreaking. In 1940, the New York premiere of Ella Belle Davis launched her career as a solo vocalist and Decca recording artist. Throughout the 1940s, the series highlighted refugee conductors, composers, and soloists, providing them with a vital platform. In 1964, the series also made history by presenting the first full opera in Central Park—Donizetti’s Don Pasquale. [4]

A full illustrated history of the Naumburg Bandshell and its use is provided in a centenary booklet published in 2023.

A full illustrated history of the Naumburg Orchestral Concerts and its use is provided in a centenary booklet published in 2005.

History

Elkan Naumburg, a banker and music patron, established the concerts to foster public interest in symphonic and classical music in 1905. In 1923, he donated the Naumburg Bandshell to New York City, [5] [6] providing a dedicated venue for these performances. The Bandshell, designed by Elkan's nephew, architect William G. Tachau, is Central Park's only neo-classical building and has hosted numerous notable musicians and speakers, including Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, and Martin Luther King Jr. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Naumburg Orchestral Concerts". naumburgconcerts.org/. 2024-08-30. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
  2. ↑ "Naumburg Orchestral Concerts". Naumburg Orchestral Concerts. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  3. ↑ "The Naumburg Bandshell". Naumburg Orchestral Concerts. 2016-07-13. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  4. ↑ Rag, West Side (2023-05-25). "Naumburg Concerts Celebrate the Naumburg Bandshell at 100". West Side Rag. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
  5. ↑ "Central Park — Blog - For The Record". NYC Department of Records & Information Services. 2025-05-02. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
  6. ↑ "BAND STAND DEDICATED.; Gift From Elkan Naumberg in Central Park Formally Accepted". The New York Times. 1923-09-30. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2025-05-08.
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