Articles on the Construction of Steinway Hall

“The want of a Hall of sufficient capacity devoted exclusively to Concert purpose, has long been severely felt in this City. It was at one time thought that Irving Hall would meet every demand, at least for a few years, but its accommodations were too enticing to the votaries of Terpsichore, to escape the inducements of higher prices. So little by little the dancers took possession, and concert-goers had to look elsewhere for accommodation. How small a chance music has had this season at Irving Hall may be imagined from the fact that nearly one hundred balls have been given there, thus occupying every available night but Saturdays, during four months.

Steinway & Sons have long contemplated the building of such a hall, and made provision for it in the purchase of the ground, on part of which their handsome warerooms now stand. The Steinway Hall will be located on Fifteenth st., but the entrance, we presume, will be through the splendid warehouse on fourteenth-st. It will be 123 feet long by 75 feet wide, and will seat, it is calculated, about 2,400 people. It is to be used exclusively for concerts, and Mr. L. F. Harrison will have the control of it, being at the same time lessee of Irving Hall, which will be devoted exclusively to ball arrangements. This enterprise of the Steinways will prove a great boon to the musical world, and an excellent speculation at the same time. An organ will be built for it, at a cost of over $10,000. The cost of the whole building, when completed, will reach, it is said, $100,000.”

“The fine, open Spring weather has enabled Messrs. Steinway & Sons to commence the construction of their new hall, which it will be remembered is at the rear of their marble palace in East Fourteenth-street. When finished it will be the finest building of the kind in America, and what is more to the point exactly what we want in New-York.  There has of late been a noticeable revival in oratorio music, or rather an increased activity on the part of the two societies which cultivate and represent it.  The Harmonic Society, under the intelligent direction of Mr. Ritter, seems, at last, to have got past the ‘Messiah.’ The Mendelssohn Union, under the energetic and capable bâton of Mr. William Berge, has many novel works in rehearsal. Both societies have been hampered and restrained heretofore by the want of a suitable hall in which to give their performances.  This difficulty, we are glad to know, will soon cease.  The hall now in process of erection by Messrs. Steinway & Sons is a noble contribution to art.  It will seat 2,500 people, and be furnished with a first-class organ. Musical entertainments of great magnitude will be practicable in such an edifice. The existence of the hall indeed insures many first-class entertainments.”

The first sod was turned to lay the foundation of Steinway’s new concert hall, and the work will now progress quickly. The concert hall will be an example of elegance, solidity and excellent ventilation. A lot of effort will be spent on turning this venue into “a temple of art”. The architect Mr. Eidlitz also built Irving Hall (unfortunately without good ventilation).

“A hall for musical purposes only, adapted to the wants of the city, has long been a desideratum, which Messrs. Steinway & Sons, the famous piano-forte makers, have undertaken to supply. The new hall will be built upon Fifteenth street, between Fourth avenue and Irving Place, and will be large enough for almost any demand that is likely to be made upon it. It will seat twenty-five hundred persons comfortably, and there will be standing room for six or eight hundred more. The building will be one hundred and twenty-three feet long, seventy-five feet wide, and forty-two feet high.  Two galleries will extend around the auditorium. The stage will be ample for the accommodation of five hundred performers. A large organ that is expected to equal the one on which Boston has been so enthusiastic, will be built expressly for the hall, and put up soon after its completion—during September next.”

“A new music hall is about to be erected in this city by Messrs. Steinway & Sons, in the rear of their piano-forte rooms, on Fourteenth street, they having reserved ground for it at the time of the erection of that building.  It will occupy the space back of the present building, between 4th avenue and Irving Place, on Fourteenth street, and reaching thence to Fifteenth street. The dimensions of the hall will be 123 feet long by 75 feet broad, and 42 feet in height. The main entrance will be on Fourteenth st., with spacious exit, also, on Fifteenth st. There are to be two galleries on the end nearest Fourteenth st., extending on each side not more than one third of the length of the hall—all the rest to be clear from floor to ceiling. There will be 2,550 actual seats, all affording a clear view of the stage. Probably the open space of the hall will afford standing room for 500 persons more. Steam is to be used in heating, and gas for light, with burners so disposed as not to fatigue the eye, while brilliantly lighting every corner of the hall. The decorations of wall and ceiling are to be mainly fresco; costly, elegant and chaste. The walls of the building will be 28 inches thick, set in cement, buttresses with heavy piers, floors laid in cement, and the whole building constructed with conscientious regard to safety, as well as to splendor and comfort. An organ of great power is to occupy the stage and, constructed expressly for the purpose, at a cost, we believe, of $20,000, and as powerful as the size of the room will admit. Adjoining the hall will be another building, on Fifteenth street, devoted partly to piano studios for artists, and partly to the machinery of the organ. The estimated cost of the hall is $90,000, exclusive of the lot and of the organ. The plans are already in the hands of the builders, and workmen are now clearing the ground, removing old buildings and making excavations. The contracts call for the completion of the work by the first week of next September—in good time for the concert season.”