[Constructed 1923]

Located within the Central Park Mall on its eastern
edge directly beneath the Wisteria Pergola,
stands the lone Naumburg Bandshell. This
neoclassical limestone Bandshell, a gift of
banker Elkan Naumburg, replaced an earlier
cast-iron bandstand that was designed by
Jacob Wrey Mould. The original bandstand
was demolished in 1922, and a year later
the concert ground was enlarged to
accommodate larger audiences. The pavement
where gilded birdcages and fountains once stood
was paved with asphalt. A number of elms
were cut down and some benches were removed.
From 1923 to 1969, this current Bandshell has
served
as an outdoor theater featuring musical events.
Over the years, thousands of people would
gather to hear marches, arias, show tunes,
opera companies, jazz, Latin and rock bands,
all for free. Some famous performers who graced
its stage included Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington,
John Phililp Sousa, and the Grateful Dead. It is
also the place where Rev. Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. once spoke and where John Lennon
was eulogized. During the late 1980s, a new
music festival called Summerstage was
introduced at the Naumburg, which after a few
seasons was moved to the more spacious
Rumsey Playfield.
Today, the Parks Department does allow various
events to be staged at The Bandshell and many
of them in their diversity come as a great
surprise to the numerous visitors and
passerbys to the Mall.

Summer 2007 Concerts

Tuesday, June 26
Melody of Dragon

Tuesday, July 3
The Boston Brass

Wednesday, July 25
Brooklyn Philharmonic - Alexander Platt, conductor

Wednesday, August 15
Naumburg Orchestra - Jean-Marie Zeitouni, conductor