ACADEMY OF MUSIC (Philadelphia)

Opera house at Broad and Locust streets - probably the oldest auditorium in the United States still used in its original purposes. Construction began in 1855, with Napoleon LeBrun and Gustavus Runge, both of Philadelphia, as the architects. It was opened with a performance of Il Trovatore on Feb. 25, 1857. An extensive program of restoration and refurbishing began a century later. Long noted for its superior acoustic qualities, it houses the city's major musical events, including the concerts of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Metropolitan Opera's Philadelphia series