As William Bolcom states, “New York, where the bright lights are”, has represented a place of opportunity and new beginnings for many. The mix of artists and range of musical styles that once could be found simultaneously in this city is baffling. Both Sergei Rachmaninoff and Béla Bartók spent the latter part of their life in the metropolis, holding on to their own distinctive style of writing reminiscent of their origins.

Beyond these European masters, New York also nurtured homegrown talent that would shape American classical music, such as Aaron Copland, whose compositions reflected the essence of the American landscape, and Sigmund Romberg, who blended operetta and Broadway with a highly melodic sensibility. The city’s concert halls, opera houses, and recording studios provided a dynamic setting for experimentation and collaboration, while its conservatories trained generations of musicians and its world-class orchestras brought both classical masterpieces and contemporary works to life. Together, these institutions made New York not only a refuge for emigré composers but also a center for the emergence of an American identity in classical music.

1.30 h (c/i)