The New York Philharmonic’s season-opening gala at David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center was a night of pure musical delight, blending classical elegance with vibrant contemporary flair. Kicking off the evening, three-time Grammy Award-winning vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant, 36, enchanted the more than 2,000 attendees. She remarked, “We all need a little music right now,” before taking the stage in striking metallic green clogs, a detail that surely added to the night’s memorable people-watching, which Salvant herself admitted to enjoying.
For a captivating 80 minutes, Salvant performed alongside the approximately 100 musicians of the New York Philharmonic, under the baton of conductor Anthony Parnther. Known for leading major film score recordings like “Avatar: The Way of Water” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Parnther guided the orchestra through an eclectic program. Highlights included Henry Purcell’s 17th-century “Dido’s Lament” from the opera “Dido and Aeneas,” juxtaposed with Broadway classics such as Stephen Sondheim’s “Being Alive” from “Company.” The ensemble also delivered powerful renditions of George Gershwin’s “Strike Up the Band” overture and Duke Ellington’s jazz symphony “Black, Brown and Beige,” with Ellington’s granddaughter, Mercedes Ellington, present in the audience.
The air was buzzing with excitement, fueled by a distinguished guest list that included Alec Baldwin, a dedicated member of the orchestra’s board of directors, and Leonard Bernstein’s daughters, Jamie Bernstein and Nina Bernstein Simmons. Before the performance, guests mingled during a lively cocktail reception in the grand promenade, enjoying hors d’oeuvres and martinis. The prevailing topic of conversation was the impending arrival of Gustavo Dudamel. The 44-year-old superstar conductor, fresh from a 16-year tenure with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, is set to become the New York Philharmonic’s music and artistic director next fall.
Baldwin articulated the widespread anticipation, declaring, “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.” This sentiment echoed a city eager for a new golden age in classical music leadership.
The successful gala raised an impressive $3.3 million for the orchestra, honoring philanthropist Vera Blinken and her late husband, Ambassador Donald Blinken, a long-serving board member. Baldwin shared his personal journey into classical music, revealing that a Gustav Mahler symphony on the radio in 1980s Los Angeles sparked his lifelong “classical music devotee” status. He humorously added, “It’s really been the joy of my life. I don’t take drugs. I don’t drink alcohol. I’ve got seven kids. I need something to soothe my fevered brow.” The evening’s attendees also featured figures such as musician Steve Miller, Oscar L. Tang, Jasvinder Khaira, and Daisy Soros, adding to the glittering atmosphere of New York’s cultural elite. The post-concert dinner offered arctic char and chocolate torte to approximately 500 guests, concluding a truly memorable night.