Walter Damrosch
Conductor and Composer
Along with Andrew and Louise Carnegie, Walter Damrosch was instrumental in the building of Carnegie Hall. Conductor of the Symphony Society of New York (later merged with the New York Philharmonic) and the Oratorio Society of New York, he performed nearly 850 times at Carnegie Hall over the course of half a century—an average of about 18 times per season—including the first concert for young people barely six months after the Hall opened. He remains the holder of the record for the most appearances by an individual in the 125-year history of Carnegie Hall. Damrosch’s final performance at the Hall was with the New York Philharmonic in 1942.
“The musical field in America is certainly wonderful in its possibilities, and all my life I have reached out with both hands and have worked incessantly and enthusiastically in my calling.”
From the Archives
Walter Damrosch at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall’s performance history database covers more than 50,000 concerts and events that occurred at Carnegie Hall from its opening in 1891 to the present. Explore events related to Walter Damrosch (these links will open in a new tab with the performance history search tools):
- First Appearance: Opening Night of Carnegie Hall, May 5, 1891
- Final Appearance: New York Philharmonic, March 27, 1942
- Detailed Appearance History