
By Keith Runk
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Straight through the center of Mount Vernon runs North Charles Street, dividing cross streets from west to east. At 409 N. Charles St.—sandwiched between Mulberry and Franklin streets—lies one of the neighborhood’s hidden gems.
In the shadow of the elegance that is The Baltimore Basilica, an intimate, charming concert venue operates from an unassuming historic townhouse. Aside from the seven white steps leading up to its door and the large bay window spanning over two-thirds of its face, An Die Musik blends in with the rest of Mount Vernon.
It is what’s on the inside that sets it apart.
“When I opened An Die Musik, it was kind of a fluke,” said Henry Wong, An Die Musik’s owner.
For Wong, it all started with a question: “If we had a record store, what would we do?” This question kickstarted what would become a 30-year run of musical ingenuity.
“For any business, anything over 10 years is wild,” Wong said with a chuckle. “After 20 years, [they say] ‘you must be kidding me.’ After 30 years they think, ‘you didn’t die?’”
In 1990, An Die Musik opened as a small record store in the space at 1 Olympic Place that is now the home of Towson University’s WTMD Radio. From its humble beginnings, Wong has always strived to make An Die Musik stand out.
An Die Musik was the first record store, Wong said, that allowed customers to listen to an album in its entirety before purchasing. Other strokes of innovation included midnight album releases and recycling of the record’s original packaging.
The name, An Die Musik, comes from Franz Schubert’s song by the same name. Translated to English, it means “to music.” And to music has been Wong’s dedication from the very beginning.
“What I do here is a spiritual satisfaction, it’s personal,” Wong said. “I’m not in it for the money. To be rich is not about how many cars you can own, it’s to be rich in your own spirituality.”

The venue itself—which has played host to over 4,500 shows since moving to Baltimore in 1997—is spiritual, in a way.
A steep flight of stairs leads to a lobby that fits perfectly with Wong’s unconventional version of a concert hall. Just to the right of the stairs, a small bar serves audience members beer, wine, soda and snacks from a tight alcove. Further right is the greenroom, where performers prepare and relax between sets.
Just beyond the lobby is the listening room. The room, while small, plays a large role in what makes An Die Musik so unique. The focus is all on the music.
“What we’re doing here, our philosophy, our mission, is about music,” said Wong, a self-proclaimed purist. “What we do is present music as an entity in the most respectable way.”
Seventy-five armchairs split in two sections fill space between the mustard colored walls of the auditorium. A narrow aisle divides the room and leads to the stage, which sits but a foot off the ground. The room has seen acts ranging from budding to established musicians, most of which play Jazz and Classical music. In the corner, unused, is Baltimore’s best piano, according to Wong.
Musicians play against a backdrop of black curtains and purple neon lights, matching the colors of the Baltimore Ravens. The walls are thin, but the harmony of the music and the cars whooshing by on the street below put the listener in touch with the music and the city simultaneously.
“We can’t afford to pay the big musicians,” Wong said, adding that at An Die Musik, everyone gets a chance. But don’t be fooled by his modesty.
While Wong has not booked the Bruce Springsteen’s and Beatles’ of the music industry, he has a running list of award-winning artists that have graced his stage. Grammy nominated Bill Frisell, legendary guitarist Mike Stern, Grammy Award-winners Gary Bartz and Christian McBride, world-class saxophonist Gary Thomas, and Baltimore Jazz Award-winner Warren Wolf, just to name a few.
“I’ve never been to a venue like this,” said Christine Tobin, an Irish born composer and vocalist who is based between New York and London. “I think it’s quite unique.”
Tobin, winner of the 2014 Parliamentary Jazz Awards’ Jazz Vocalist of the Year, has played venues large and small worldwide. But the warm acoustics and welcoming atmosphere of An Die Musik have brought her back to Baltimore several times.
“That’s what’s so nice about this place,” said Phil Robson, whose guitar backs Tobin’s soothing voice. “It’s such a nice acoustic on stage.”
Robson, whom Tobin calls her “partner in time” is no stranger to the limelight either. He matter-of-factly mentioned that he has played Royal Albert Hall, one of the world’s most renowned music venues. Brushing off his experience, Robson simply said, “it was cool.”
Acts such as Tobin and Robson, alongside bassist Dezron Douglas, embody Wong’s mission of delivering a different, sometimes weird music experience. Playing a mix of originals and adding a little pep to Leonard Cohen covers, the trio represents this perfectly.
“You don’t have to glorify us, just be honest,” Wong said. “It’s not very pretty but the music is great.”
Simplicity is key. For Wong, a former John’s Hopkins University medical student and Shock Trauma volunteer, music has been that simplicity. And providing a simplistic experience for anyone who walks through his doors has been therapeutic for Wong.
“It’s not just for myself,” Wong said. “I’m creating an experience more than one person can have. If I stayed in medicine, I can only do things individually. If I do what I’m doing now, I can do it for 100 people at a time.”
What Wong does is special for many reasons. Most importantly, to Wong, the experience is cheap. But it goes deeper than the music itself. An Die Musik is a venue not only where young musicians can make a name for themselves up on the stage, it also offers professional recording services by Peabody Recording Arts and Sciences.
For the music lover whose passions align with Wong’s niche, An Die Musik is ideal. For a casual listener, or someone simply looking to step out of their comfort zone, the quaint venue will be eye opening.
In the words of Wong himself, “You’ll have to come and experience it for yourself.”
2 Comments
An die Musik Live is, in my opinion, a unique treasure for performing artists and their audiences. A recital hall like none other; it is the absolute “real deal” that transforms all who interact with it once they enter its doors. I’ve performed there several times and look forward to performing there again!
An die Musik has demonstrated an unshakeable committment to the best in jazz, world music, classical, and folk over the decades. Baltimore music lovers are lucky to have a Henry Wong in our town!