South Mountain Concert Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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South Mountain Concert Hall
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | New South Mountain Rd. (472 South St.), Pittsfield, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 10 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | 1918 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001943 |
| Added to NRHP | August 14, 1973 |
The South Mountain Concert Hall is a special place for music concerts in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It was started in 1918 by Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge from Chicago. Since then, it has hosted a summer series of classical music concerts. Many famous musicians have played here, including Leonard Bernstein and Rudolf Serkin. Important groups that play chamber music have also performed.
The hall was recognized as an important historical place in 1973. This means it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The large area around the hall is also open to the public. It is a nature preserve for everyone to enjoy.
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What is South Mountain Concert Hall?
South Mountain Concert Hall is a unique building made for music. It was built in 1918 by Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge. She moved to the Berkshires area to help her husband's health. Mrs. Coolidge loved chamber music, which is music played by a small group of instruments.
How Did the Concerts Start?
In 1916, Mrs. Coolidge created the Berkshire String Quartet. This group first played concerts in her home. Two years later, she had the special concert hall built on her property. This is the same hall that is still used for concerts today.
Who Has Performed There?
Many well-known classical musicians have performed at South Mountain. These include Peter Serkin and Leontyne Price. Famous groups like the Guarneri String Quartet and the Juilliard Quartet have also played here.
The hall has also been the place for the very first performances of new music. Composers like Bartók, Stravinsky, Ravel, and Schoenberg had their pieces first played here. In 1924, all 24 chamber works by Johannes Brahms were played together for the first time at South Mountain.
What Does South Mountain Look Like?
South Mountain is located on about 200 acres of mostly forest land. This land used to be part of the Coolidge family's large estate. A non-profit group now takes care of the hall and the land. They keep the land open as a nature preserve all year round.
The Building's Design
The concert hall is a one-story building made of wood. It looks a bit like a church. It has a sloped roof with a small tower, called a cupola, in the middle. There is a covered entrance for cars, called a porte cochere, at the main door.
On the side opposite the entrance, there are five large openings. Each of these has a French door. Above these doors, there are windows that open outwards for fresh air.
Special Building Materials
The main wooden beams for the hall came from an old textile factory. The seats inside the hall were once pews from a church. The inside walls are covered with old wooden panels. The hall is next to an open grassy area. People can sit on the lawn and still hear the music clearly. Mrs. Coolidge also had small cabins built nearby. These were for the musicians to stay in.
