The Lyric Theater of Baltimore

Posted on October 12, 2009 - Filed Under Travel

On the evening of Halloween, in the year 1894, the Boston Symphony Orchestra performed for the first time in the new Music Hall of Baltimore. Luxury hotels were full as people came into the city to attend the performance of the piece that was played that night, “Die Meistersinger von Nurenberg, and the symphony was led by Emil Paur. The architect who designed the building was there, and received congratulations from the soloist singer who also performed that night, Nellie Melba. She congratulated T. Henry Randall on the superb acoustics of the building that he created.

One hundred and fifteen years ago, they would not have even imagined the varied kinds of shows that would be put up by what is know known as the Lyric Theater. One night, a boxing match between JoeGans and Mike Sullivan took place at the Lyric. And then, the first exhibit on cooking with electricity was given at the Lyric, in 1905. That same year, opera productions were staged. The speeches that were given at the Lyric read as a section in the book of American history. Some of these historical figures includeRoald Amundsen, Calvin E. Coolidge, Clarence Darrow, Emily Earhart, and Herbert Hoover.

The list of famous performers is just as eclectic and rich with history. The one aspect of the Lyric that has come up throughout the years, is the incredible acoustics of the building. World renown conductors such as Charles Munch, FritzReiner and Sir Thomas Beecham have stated that they all enjoyed this one particular theater, more than any in the rest of the country. And even today, the theater is still well known for the sound that is produced within its walls. Symphonies, and conductors the world throughout are hoping that in this age when buildings get replaced by bigger ones with more seating capacity, that the city of Baltimore will not allow that to happen to their Lyric Theater.

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