The small island of Manhattan, located at the heart of New York City, is just 13 miles long and two miles wide. And yet packed within those 23 square miles sit block after block of amazing architecture, storied stone structures, and notable neighborhoods each with its own pleasing personality. So much contributes to its character—the Empire State Building, the hustle and bustle of Times Square, Central Park in its many colors and seasons, the Lincoln Center complex, the lights of Broadway, Nuts 4 Nuts or hotdogs from the many street vendors, crazy cab drivers, and the teeming weekday streets of Wall Street found quiet and empty on the weekends. The list goes on.
Manhattan’s long and intricate history has created an almost indescribable and intoxicating charm that continues to draw tourists and transplants alike. The city that so many know and love today would never have been, however, had any number of significant events gone just a little differently. As the seventh annual Classical Singer Convention heads to Times Square this May, let us consider a few of these “what ifs.”
What if New York City had kept any of its previous names? Its first European settlers, the Dutch, named it “New Amsterdam.” When the British conquered the settlement in 1664, they renamed it “New York” to honor the Duke of York. The Dutch reclaimed the city briefly just nine years later, and with the most creativity yet, renamed the city for the third time “New Orange.”
Had the Brits been any less nationalistic and kept either of the Dutch names, there would be no t-shirts, mugs, or hats plastered with that snappy acronym “NYC.” Jimmy Kennedy, who penned the song “Istanbul” that They Might Be Giants would later make famous, would have had to find lyrics other than the catchy “even old New York was once New Amsterdam.” What’s more, the famous Big Apple might be the Big Orange.
What if New York City had remained the nation’s capital? In 1788, the Constitutional Congress held in New York City declared it the infant United States’ first capital, a title it held for just two years. The decision to move the capital first to Philadelphia, and later to Washington D.C., proved instrumental in the city’s subsequent development. Had the city remained the nation’s capital, it may not have had the freedom and resources to become the financial and cultural center of the world.
Finally, what if Robert Moses had gotten everything he wanted? This master builder of the 20th century had revolutionary ideas about infrastructure that favored the car and made suburb life not only possible but also extremely popular. Under Moses, the Triborough, Verazzano, and Hudson Bridges were built, as well as most major expressways in and around New York City, including the Cross Bronx Expressway.
Bronx residents fought hard against the construction of the Cross Bronx Expressway that tore through neighborhoods and displaced families, but in the end Moses won. When he proposed an eight-lane elevated highway in lower Manhattan that would run from the East River to the Hudson River, opponents again fought hard. This time, thanks to the concerted efforts of activist Jane Jacobs, city officials conceded to the voice of the people and stopped the highway’s construction. Had Moses succeeded, the freeway would have replaced major sections of Greenwich Village and SoHo. The face of these neighborhoods would have never been the same.
Speculating about history’s “what ifs” can be fun and enlightening. The “what ifs” that arise in our own lives, however, can be less fun and sometimes painful—especially as an artist. What if I had gone to that audition? What if I had not screwed up that high note? What if I had opened my mouth and networked more?
Do not add another “what if” to the list by missing out on this year’s Classical Singer Convention. We have an incredible program of classes and presenters, many of whom share their wisdom in the pages of this issue. Join singers Dawn Upshaw and Sylvia McNair, manager Robert Mirshak, pianist Warren Jones, and a host of others, who will help you explore the possibilities of your own future.
New York City’s “what ifs” are in the past. Act now to eliminate in advance your own “what ifs.”
