The New York Philharmonic’s season-opening gala at David Geffen Hall was a night brimming with musical artistry and celebrity buzz. Three-time Grammy Award winner Cécile McLorin Salvant set the tone, charming the audience with her distinct style, even sporting metallic green clogs as she prepared to perform.
“We all need a little music right now,” Ms. Salvant, 36, remarked before gracing the stage. For an exhilarating 80 minutes, she, alongside the roughly 100 musicians of the Philharmonic and led by conductor Anthony Parnther, delivered an eclectic program. This included Henry Purcell’s 17th-century “Dido’s Lament” and beloved musical theater pieces like Stephen Sondheim’s “Being Alive” from “Company.”
The evening’s diverse selections also featured George Gershwin’s “Strike Up the Band” overture and Duke Ellington’s iconic jazz symphony “Black, Brown and Beige,” with Ellington’s granddaughter, Mercedes Ellington, among the distinguished guests.
Held in the grand promenade of Lincoln Center, the gala commenced with a lively cocktail reception, where attendees like Alec Baldwin, a board member for the orchestra, and Leonard Bernstein’s daughters, Jamie Bernstein and Nina Bernstein Simmons, mingled over martinis and appetizers.
A palpable excitement filled the air, largely centered around the highly anticipated arrival of Gustavo Dudamel. The 44-year-old maestro, who spent 16 transformative years at the helm of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, is slated to become the New York Philharmonic’s music and artistic director next fall.
Alec Baldwin articulated this collective anticipation: “I’m very excited for him to come here because he’s the closest we’ve come to recreating the Bernstein era. Dudamel is our Bernstein.” His words echoed the widespread enthusiasm New Yorkers have held since Dudamel’s appointment was first announced.
The successful event, which generated an impressive $3.3 million for the orchestra, honored philanthropist Vera Blinken and her late husband, Ambassador Donald Blinken, a long-serving board member.
Baldwin shared his personal journey into classical music, recalling how a Gustav Mahler symphony on the radio in 1980s Los Angeles ignited his lifelong passion. “It’s really been the joy of my life,” he confessed, adding with characteristic humor, “I don’t take drugs. I don’t drink alcohol. I’ve got seven kids. I need something to soothe my fevered brow.”