Academy of Music
Academy of Music is America's oldest grand opera house still used for its original purpose, a National Historic Landmark that has hosted performances since 1857. Located on South Broad Street at the heart of the Avenue of the Arts, the Academy's Victorian interior—with its famous chandelier, red plush seating, and exceptional acoustics—has welcomed the world's greatest musicians, from Jenny Lind to the Philadelphia Orchestra to contemporary performers. Though the orchestra moved to the Kimmel Center in 2001, the Academy continues hosting opera, ballet, and special events in a setting of irreplaceable historic character.[1]
History
[edit | edit source]The Academy of Music opened on January 26, 1857, fulfilling decades of effort to provide Philadelphia with a world-class opera house. The building, designed by Napoleon LeBrun and Gustave Runge, drew inspiration from La Scala in Milan, creating a horseshoe-shaped auditorium of exceptional acoustic quality. The Academy immediately became Philadelphia's premier cultural venue, hosting opera, symphony, and visiting performers who came to the city that was then America's second largest. The building's survival and continued use for over 165 years makes it unique among American opera houses.[2]
The Academy hosted numerous historical events beyond musical performance. Abraham Lincoln spoke from its stage during the Civil War. Political conventions nominated presidential candidates in its auditorium. Social events gathered Philadelphia's elite in a setting that expressed cultural aspiration through architectural form. The building's multiple functions—opera house, concert hall, civic auditorium—made it central to Philadelphia's public life in ways that specialized contemporary venues cannot replicate.[1]
Design
[edit | edit source]The Academy's plain brownstone exterior gives little indication of the ornate interior within—a deliberate choice that concentrated resources on the auditorium where audiences would actually experience the building. The interior displays Victorian decoration at its most elaborate: gilded ornament, painted ceilings, crimson velvet seating, and crystal chandeliers that sparkle above the audience. The famous grand chandelier, 16 feet in diameter and containing 240 lights, has illuminated the auditorium since the building opened.[2]
The horseshoe-shaped auditorium seats approximately 2,900 in orchestra, parquet, balcony, and amphitheater levels. The seating arrangement, with multiple tiers of boxes rising around the room, reflects nineteenth-century social organization that placed Philadelphia's elite in visible positions while accommodating larger audiences in upper levels. Acoustics, carefully considered in the original design, create the warm sound that has earned the Academy praise from performers and listeners. The Academy's intimate scale, compared to larger contemporary venues, brings audiences close to performers in ways that enhance live performance experience.[1]
Philadelphia Orchestra
[edit | edit source]The Philadelphia Orchestra made the Academy of Music its home from the orchestra's founding in 1900 until its move to the Kimmel Center's Verizon Hall in 2001. During this century, the orchestra achieved international renown under conductors including Leopold Stokowski, Eugene Ormandy, and Riccardo Muti. The Academy's acoustics suited the orchestra's rich sound, and the historic venue's prestige complemented the ensemble's cultural authority. The orchestra's departure for a purpose-built modern hall ended an association that defined both institutions.[2]
The orchestra returns to the Academy for its annual Academy Ball and occasional special performances, maintaining connection to the hall that shaped its identity. The Academy's acoustics, different from Verizon Hall's contemporary design, offer qualities that some listeners prefer. The historic setting provides atmosphere that new construction cannot replicate, reminding audiences of the Orchestra's long Philadelphia history.[1]
Current Operations
[edit | edit source]Opera Philadelphia uses the Academy for major productions that require large-scale setting, while Pennsylvania Ballet performs its annual Nutcracker and other works on the Academy stage. Broadway touring productions, concerts, and special events occupy the venue throughout the year. The combination of historic character and performance capability makes the Academy attractive for events seeking settings of distinction.[2]
The Academy requires ongoing maintenance and restoration to preserve its historic fabric while meeting contemporary performance and safety requirements. Ownership by the Philadelphia Orchestra ensures continued commitment to the building's preservation. Periodic restoration projects address the paint, gilding, plasterwork, and mechanical systems that require attention after decades of use. The Academy's survival depends on this continued investment in a building that cannot generate the revenue that might support unlimited maintenance budgets.[1]