Concerts at One
Trinity Church Wall Street offers lunch-hour recitals every Thursday in its stately sanctuary, and on Monday in the more intimate St. Paul’s Chapel. Best part: It costs only $2. 89 Broadway at Wall St (212-602-0872)
Peoples’ Symphony Concerts
Year after year, PSCNY presents primo talent—often the same that plays elsewhere for top dollar—at less than $20 a pop. Various locations (pscny.org)
Juilliard, MSM and Mannes
You already knew that the Juilliard School, the Manhattan School of Music and Mannes College attract some of the best and brightest young musicians. But did you also know that all three regularly present public concerts that are free of charge—including world-premiere compositions and fully staged operas? Now you do. Juilliard: various locations (212-769-7406, juilliard.edu/calendar). MSM: various locations (212-749-2802, www.msmnyc.edu). Mannes: various locations (212-580-0210, ext 4817; mannes.newschool.edu/concerts)
The Frick Collection
Having hosted free concerts for decades, the Frick recently started charging $25 per ticket. It’s still one of the best bargains in town, seeing as how scores of star performers have made their earliest New York appearances here. 1 E 70th St between Fifth and Madison Aves (212-288-0700, frick.org)
Ensemble ACJW
Concerts by these hotshot Juilliard grad students cover everything from the Baroque to contemporary music. They are played with precision and heart and are often less than $20. The group performs Thursday 26 at Carnegie Hall. Watch juilliard.edu/calendar and carnegiehall.org for additional dates.
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