Conductor Daniele Gatti and Evgeny Kissin with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
On October 1, 2009, Carnegie Hall opened its 119th season with a sold out gala benefit concert featuring conductor Daniele Gatti and the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage. The program included the New York premiere of John Williams’ On Willows and Birches, for harp and orchestra, with BSO principal harpist Ann Hobson Pilot as featured soloist. Mr. Williams has written this piece to honor Ms. Pilot who is retiring after a 40-year career with the orchestra. Also on the program: Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor with pianist Evgeny Kissin—as a prelude to the 200th anniversary of the composer’s birth in 2010—as well as Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture and Debussy’s La mer. The gala, which was attended by more than 600 guests, raised over $3 million. All proceeds benefit Carnegie Hall’s artistic and education programming. The Opening Night Gala of Carnegie Hall’s 119th Season was sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers for the sixth consecutive season.
The Opening Night Gala of Carnegie Hall’s 119th Season was co-chaired by Susan and Ed Forst; Myra and Robert Kraft; Frederick Iseman; and Elizabeth and Henry Segerstrom. The benefit included a pre-concert reception in Carnegie Hall’s Rohatyn Room and a Gala Dinner at The Waldorf=Astoria’s Grand Ballroom following the concert.
Carnegie Hall’s Opening Night Gala is an historic testament to the Hall’s long-standing commitment to presenting the world’s preeminent orchestras, conductors, and soloists. The October 1 performance kicks off the 2009–10 season which features around 200 performances including the upcoming Ancient Paths, Modern Voices: A Festival Celebrating Chinese Culture with 21 days of events and performances by leading international musicians in October and November. In addition, this season, the Kronos Quartet curates an adventurous six-event Perspectives series of eclectic concerts collaborating with artists from around the globe; Dutch composer Louis Andriessen is in residence as the Richard and Barbara Debs Composer’s Chair at Carnegie Hall in spring 2010 with premieres of a number of his recent works; plus performances by the world’s finest artists from classical and jazz to world music and pop.
