November 17, 1908 : The magnificent new theater on North Broad Street was ready for its first opera! It was "as if some master magician's wand had called it into being," wrote one admiring journalist.

Everyone in the Philadelphia - especially its most wealthy and socially prominent citizens - could hardly wait to get inside to the opening night production of "Carmen." But first they had to make their way through the crowd of ten thousand people out on the streets gathered just to see them all dressed up in their finest!

This is the story of the New York opera impresario Oscar Hammerstein, and how the "Opera War" with his rival, the Metropolitan Opera Company, spread all the way to Philadelphia. What remains behind of that war today is not only an amazing theater, but a great story!

After you've listened to the show, for additional images and information, see the blog post on our website: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/the-beauties-of-society/

Support the show

"Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK can be ordered from independent bookstores and at all online book retailers now!

Our website: www.aithpodcast.com

Our email address: [email protected]

Bluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/

Support our work and get BONUS EPISODES on Patreon! GO HERE

© Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved.

℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz.

℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.