The planet’s biggest musical luminaries, philanthropists, and superstars gathered for a night of dazzling merriment at Carnegie Hall’s 50th anniversary of its “Concert of the Century.”
New York City celebrated in epic style with grand moments that sparkled with magic during one of the most prolific affairs in Big Apple history. The once-in-a-lifetime convening of musical all-stars on May 5 was brilliantly organized by famed violinist Isaac Stern. Commemorating the anniversary of the Hall’s opening on May 5, 1891, the original 1976 event brought together iconic musicians for a now-legendary “concert celebration.” Now, Ffifty years later – and 135 years after the opening of the Hall – a new lineup of Carnegie Hall legends came together to honor the legacy and top open the sound of the tune beating for a new generation.
A Night of Music (Photo by Chris Lee)
Conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin led the NYO-USA All-Stars, an ensemble of distinguished alumni from Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America, who are now outstanding young professionals in the music field. The program opened with the overture to Leonard Bernstein’s “Candide,” which premiered at the Hall in 1957 by the New York Philharmonic under the composer’s baton. Host for the night soprano Renée Fleming also took the stage with the orchestra and the Oratorio Society of New York, the same chorus for which Carnegie Hall was originally designed and built.
Katie Holmes, Constance Wu (BFA)
Everything striking performance on the grand stage brought history to life and modernized the movement for all ages to forever love and support the arts. It was a big night as only Gotham knows how to do it Big Apple style.
Kehinde Wiley and Lorraine Toussaint (Patrick McMullan/PMC/PMC)
Highlights of this special program also included mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato joining pianist Emanuel Ax for two of Gustav Mahler’s “Rückert-Lieder”and the third movement of Tchaikovsky’s “Piano Concerto No. 1” with pianist Lang Lang; mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard singing from Rossini’s “La Cenerentola. Vocalist Audra McDonald partnered with longtime music director Andy Einhorn for songs by Ellington and Gershwin. Vocalist and pianist Michael Feinstein collaborated with the orchestra on songs by Michel Legrand and Arthur Schwartz. The program also featured Valerie Coleman’s “Seven O’Clock Shout” and Bernstein’s inspiring “Make Our Garden Grow from Candide.”
Gala Lead Chair Elizabeth Segerstrom took the lead for the black-tie evening that dazzled the biggest names on the planet. It will forever go down in the social calendar history books for an evening at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel that took attendees breath away and elevated their souls with eternal bliss.
Robert F. Smith, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Carnegie Hall, shared “Elizabeth Segerstrom has been a dedicated supporter, champion, and friend of Carnegie Hall for almost two decades. We were so fortunate and grateful to have her lead this event tonight to carry on her late husband Henry’s legacy for our Hall. What we experience at Carnegie Hall—what so many have experienced here over the years—is the depth of expression, the connection to history, the nuance, the storytelling. It is not simply a feat of the technical; it is the triumph of the human spirit. The connection we feel in this hall reminds us of the importance of sharing moments that renew and inspire us. Through art, we develop a deeper understanding of our place in the universe and what it truly means to be human. That is the power of this institution, and that is why the support in this room matters so profoundly for generations to come.”
The gala raised $3.5 million in support of Carnegie Hall’s artistic, education and social impact programs. The 600 guests included Katie Holmes, Liev Schreiber and Taylor Neisen, Constance Wu, Victoria and Michael Imperioli, Candace Bushnell, Lou Diamond Phillips, Colleen and Gary Rein, Maria Manetti Shrem, Daniil Simkin, Dana and Robert Kraft, Barbara Tober, Marilyn Minter, Famke Janssen, Ellen Burstyn, Kehinde Wiley, and more.
Gala Chairs included Anya Gillinson, Ila and Dinesh Paliwal, and Hope and Robert F. Smith. Gala Co-Chairs were Marco Argenti and Nanyan Li, Mercedes T. Bass, Sandra Segerstrom Daniels, and Joan and Sanford I. Weill, Weill Family Foundation. South Coast Plaza was the Gala Sponsor.
The dinner celebrated Executive and Artistic Director Clive Gillinson’s twenty years of visionary leadership at Carnegie Hall. Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Music Director of the Metropolitan Opera, said “What is extraordinary is that Clive is, at his core, a musician, and leads with the heart of a musician. That is what makes such an incredible difference at Carnegie Hall—not just in New York, but far beyond.
Anya Gillinson, Clive Gillinson, Isabel Leonard (BFA)
Benefiting Carnegie Hall’s artistic, education, and social impact programs, the affair also celebrated Executive and Artistic Director Clive Gillinson’s twenty years of visionary leadership at Carnegie Hall. Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Music Director of the Metropolitan Opera, said “What is extraordinary is that Clive is, at his core, a musician, and leads with the heart of a musician. That is what makes such an incredible difference at Carnegie Hall—not just in New York, but far beyond. In a world that often feels uncertain, Carnegie Hall stands as a beacon—of openness, of creativity, of diversity, of freedom of expression. And that is not by accident. It is the result of vision, of leadership, and of a deep belief in what music can do for people.”
This performance was heard live by listeners around the world, as part of the Carnegie Hall Live broadcast and digital series. Produced by WQXR and Carnegie Hall and co-hosted by WQXR’s Jeff Spurgeon and WNYC’s John Schaefer, the concert was broadcast on WQXR 105.9 FM in New York and streamed online.
