Carnegie Hall Archives Preservation Project

FAIN: PG-52221-14

Carnegie Hall Society (New York, NY 10019-3293)
Gino Francesconi (Project Director: May 2013 to October 2015)

The purchase of archival quality containers to rehouse and preserve the audio collection of the radio program "AT&T Presents Carnegie Hall Tonight." The collection comprises 1,509 audio tapes, or 1,000 hours of programming, of the weekly series that aired from 1984 to 1988. The series featured great classical artists and orchestras-Isaac Stern, Yo-Yo Ma, Leonard Bernstein, and the Vienna Philharmonic-as well as jazz, pop, and folk figures such as Eartha Kitt, Liza Minnelli, and Pete Seeger. Besides musical performances, the hour-long broadcasts also offered commentary on musical selections, interviews of prominent artists and composers, and other programming related to special events and occasions.

The project will enable Carnegie Hall's Archives to re-house and preserve our AT&T Presents Carnegie Hall Tonight, a high priority audio collection that is core to our permanent collection. Carnegie Hall's Archives is made up of papers, programs, audio and video recordings, manuscripts, ephemera, objects, artwork, photographs and other materials that document the rich and varied 122-year history of the world renowned performing arts facility--a history that mirrors the social and cultural history of the United States. Preservation measures of this project are based on assessments conducted in 2010 by professional consultants in audiovisual conservation. This collection is a key record of Carnegie Hall's concert and event history, and contains audio representation of iconic figures and events that have shaped the history of the Hall.