Jordan Hall facts for kids
Jordan Hall
NEC's principal performance space |
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 Jordan Hall
Location in Massachusetts
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| Address | 290 Huntington Ave. |
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| Location | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Coordinates | 42°20′28″N 71°5′11″W / 42.34111°N 71.08639°W |
| Public transit | Massachusetts Avenue, Symphony |
| Owner | New England Conservatory of Music |
| Type | Concert hall |
| Capacity | 1,051 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1903 |
| Renovated | 1995 |
| Tenants | |
| From the Top | |
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Architect | Wheelwright & Haven |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000672 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 14, 1980 |
| Designated NHL | April 19, 1994 |
Jordan Hall is a famous concert hall located in Boston, Massachusetts. It's the main place where students and famous musicians perform at the New England Conservatory. This amazing building is very close to Boston's Symphony Hall. Jordan Hall is special because it's the only building of a music school in the United States that has been named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical place!
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Building Design
The architect who designed Jordan Hall was Edmund M. Wheelwright. He was from Boston and later designed another famous building nearby called Horticultural Hall.
Unique Shape
Jordan Hall has an unusual square shape. This is because of the land it was built on. Even with its unique shape, the hall has amazing sound quality. This means the music sounds great from anywhere inside! Also, every seat, whether on the main floor or the horseshoe-shaped balcony, has a clear view of the stage.
Grand Organ
The hall also features a very noticeable organ. Its design was inspired by an organ found in a church in Siena, Italy.
Hall's History
Jordan Hall first opened its doors in 1903. It was a gift from Eben D. Jordan II. He was a trustee of the Conservatory and his father founded the famous Jordan Marsh store.
Opening Night
The very first concert at Jordan Hall was on October 20, 1903. The famous Boston Symphony Orchestra performed that night. Newspapers at the time said the hall was "unequaled the world over." The Boston Globe newspaper even reported that European musicians who were there said it was more beautiful than anything they had ever seen.
Awards and Restoration
Jordan Hall was carefully restored in 1995. After this restoration, it won several important awards. These included the Massachusetts Historical Commission Preservation Award and the Boston Preservation Alliance Award in 1996.
Historic Landmark Status
The main building of the Conservatory, which includes Jordan Hall, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Later, in 1994, it was given the even higher honor of being named a National Historic Landmark. This shows how important Jordan Hall is to American history and music.
Performance Space
Many incredible performances have happened at Jordan Hall. Each year, about 650 student performances take place here. Also, almost every important classical musician from the last century has performed on its stage.
Famous Performers
The list of famous artists who have performed at Jordan Hall is very long! It includes:
- Musicians like Nadia Boulanger, Pablo Casals, James Galway, and Isaac Stern.
- Pianists such as Arthur Rubinstein, Angela Hewitt, and Krystian Zimerman.
- Singers like Marian Anderson, Dawn Upshaw, and David Daniels.
- Guitarists including Andrés Segovia and Julian Bream.
- Composers like Béla Bartók and Aaron Copland.
- Jazz legends such as Stan Getz and Benny Goodman.
- Famous groups like the Martha Graham Dance Company and the Juilliard string quartet.
Home to Music Shows
Jordan Hall is also where From the Top is recorded. This is a popular National Public Radio classical music show. It is hosted by Christopher O'Riley, who is an alumnus of the New England Conservatory.
Many other musical groups also perform their concerts at Jordan Hall. These include the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, the Boston Civic Symphony, and the Boston Philharmonic. The Boston Gay Men's Chorus also holds a series of holiday concerts here every year. In 1973, a student group called The New England Conservatory Ragtime Ensemble recorded their Grammy Award-winning album "The Red Back Book" on the Jordan Hall stage.
