Old Haunts: Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Juilliard School + the UWS

Carnegie Hall

Leica M6 + Leitz 8-element Summicron 35mm
Kodak PX125 in Diafine

I heard many great artists, chamber music groups and orchestras visiting NYC at this venue. In 1982, I was one of the few fortunate young violinists chosen to participate in Alexander Schneider's New York String Orchestra. We performed here on Christmas Eve! I've also played at Weill Hall as a chamber musician.

Fuji XE-3 + Meike 28mm f2.8

I also frequented the Joseph Patelson Music House right behind Carnegie Hall's stage door on 56th street for sheet music.

Lincoln Center

Leica M6 + Leitz 8-element Summicron 35mm
Kodak PX125 in Diafine

The New York Metropolitan Opera at the center flanked by the New York City Ballet Theater to the left and the David Geffen Hall to the right

Sony A7II + Voigtlander Color-Skopar 35mm f2.5

The David Geffen Hall (formerly Avery Fisher Hall) is the official home of the New York Philharmonic. The most memorable performance I ever heard here was Nathan Milstein playing the Beethoven violin concerto with the NYPO conducted by Zubin Mehta in 1982. He was already 78 years old but was still in top form. After receiving a standing ovation + a couple of curtain calls, he played Allegro Assai from Bach C major Sonata as an encore. I also played here as a member of the Juilliard Orchestra. Click here for a 1988 concert program with my name in the violin section. 😊

Leica M6 + Leitz 8-element Summicron 35mm
Kodak PX125 in Diafine

65th Street stairs to Lincoln Center Plaza

Leica M6 + Leitz 8-element Summicron 35mm
Ilford FP4+ in Rodinal 1+25

Reclining Figure (1965) by Henry Moore
The Juilliard School + David Geffen Hall in the background

Leica M6 + Leitz 8-element Summicron 35mm
Ilford FP4+ in Rodinal 1+25

Sky view from the 65th Street entrance to Juilliard

Lincoln Plaza Cinemas

Sony A7II + Voigtlander Color-Skopar 35mm f2.5

I got exposed to great film makers like Pedro Almodovar, Federico Fellini, Akira Kurosawa, Eric Rohmer, Francois Truffaut + many more at Lincoln Plaza Cinemas (1981-2018).

Sony A7II + Voigtlander Color-Skopar 35mm f2.5

The Juilliard School

Sony A7II + Voigtlander Color-Skopar 35mm f2.5

I was accepted to the Juilliard Pre-College Division as a violin student of Ms. Dorothy DeLay in 1978. I eventually received my Bachelors Degree in 1984 and Masters Degree in 1988. During my years at Juilliard, the building still had the original Brutalist facade as conceived by Pietro Belluschi. 

Leica M6 + Leitz 8-element Summicron 35mm
Ilford FP4+ in Rodinal 1+25

Broadway is now in full view after the Diller Scofidio + Renfro renovation

Leica M6 + Leitz 8-element Summicron 35mm
Ilford FP4+ in Rodinal 1+25

This staircase at the front facade of the Juilliard building is visible on Broadway.

Leica M6 + Leitz 8-element Summicron 35mm
Ilford FP4+ in Rodinal 1+25

Orchestra rehearsals are now held at the Judith Harris and Tony Woolfson Orchestra Studio (Studio 543). During my time, we rehearsed at Studio 309.

Fuji XE-1 + FujinonXF35mm F1.4 R

The main entrance to Juilliard is now on 65th Street.

Fuji XE-1 + FujinonXF35mm F1.4 R

This was the 66th street main entrance during my student days.

Leica M6 + Voigtlander Color-Skopar 21mm f4
Ilford FP4+ in Rodinal 1+25

The Juilliard School viewed from Broadway and 66th Street. 

Leica M6 + Leitz 8-element Summicron 35mm
Ilford FP4+ in Rodinal 1+25

Lincoln Center subway entrance to the No. 1 (IRT) downtown train

Upper West Side

Ricoh 500G
Shanghai GP3 100 in Rodinal 1+25

72nd Street Subway Station on Broadway

Sony A7II + Voigtlander Color-Skopar 35mm f2.5

If memory still serves, two hotdogs + orange drink was $1.50 in the early 80s. Now it's $7.50 but just as good!

Sony A7II + Voigtlander Color-Skopar 35mm f2.5

A lot of Juilliard students shared apartments at The Ansonia

Sony A7II + Voigtlander Color-Skopar 35mm f2.5

Apple Bank Building on 2112 Broadway

Sony A7II + Voigtlander Color-Skopar 35mm f2.5

Verdi Monument

Sony A7II + Voigtlander Color-Skopar 35mm f2.5

Verdi Square looking south

Sony A7II + Voigtlander Color-Skopar 35mm f2.5

Verdi Square looking north

Sony A7II + Voigtlander Color-Skopar 35mm f2.5

Broadway and 72nd Street looking south

Sony A7II + Voigtlander Color-Skopar 35mm f2.5

Westsider Records (formerly Gryphon Records) on 233 West 72nd Street

Bessa R + Canon 50mm f1.8
Foma 100 in Rodinal 1+50

Westsider Books (formerly Gryphon Books) at 2246 Broadway

Sony A7II + W-Nikkor 3.5cm f2.5

For the 1985-1986 academic year, I studied violin and chamber music with Mr. Felix Galimir at the Mannes School of Music. After winning the concerto competition, I performed Bruch Concerto No. 1 in G minor with the Mannes Orchestra at (the old) Symphony Space on 2537 Broadway, which was broadcasted on WQXR.

Mr. Galimir and I, ca. 1985

Let's add Tchaikovsky's music to the pictures, performed by yours truly assisted by my friend Albert Tiu on the piano. Enjoy! 😊