Academy of Music

Academy of Music

Opened in 1857, the building is the oldest grand opera house in America used for its original purpose. It is the home of the Pennsylvania Ballet and the Philadelphia Opera Company.

The Academy is not a school of music.

Because of its age and historical significance it is known as the "Grand Old Lady of Broad Street."

The venue is the home of the Pennsylvania Ballet.

Parts of Martin Scorsese's film of The Age of Innocence were filmed in the Academy.

It hosted the 1872 Republican National Convention.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 18, 1855, with President Franklin Pierce in attendance and the venue opened with a grand ball on January 26, 1857.

The first opera performed here was Verdi's Il Trovatore, on February 25, 1857. It was the first time the opera was performed in the Western Hemisphere.

The building is owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra, which performed in it until December, 2001. The orchestra now performs in the nearby Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

The building was designed by the Philadelphia architectural firm of Napoleon LeBrun and Gustavus Runge. The design features an "open horseshoe" shape which offers greater visibility than most opera houses to the audience seated on both sides of the balconies.

Location

Broad and Locust Streets
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
USA

Getting There

The Academy of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is accessible by public transportation. The closest subway station is the City Hall station, which is served by the Broad Street Line and the Market-Frankford Line. From there, it's about a 10-minute walk to the Academy of Music.

Alternatively, several SEPTA bus routes stop near the Academy of Music, including routes 9, 12, 21, 42, and 44. Additionally, the Regional Rail stations at Suburban and Jefferson are within walking distance of the Academy of Music.

Nearby Airports

This is a list of primary airports in Pennsylvania that have scheduled passenger service on commercial airlines.