“The opening of the New York Philharmonic’s 174th season on Thursday felt like the start of a new chapter,” writes Michael Cooper in Friday’s (9/25) New York Times, “as the orchestra played for the first time in the newly rechristened David Geffen Hall and announced that it was getting the largest individual donation in its history: a $25 million gift from Oscar S. Schafer, the chairman of its board, and his wife, Didi. The gift … signaled that the Philharmonic was addressing the biggest challenges it has faced in decades, including raising its share of the costs to renovate its hall; shoring up its finances; and finding a new music director to succeed Alan Gilbert when he steps down in 2017.” Alan Gilbert led the concert, which featured Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 and Lang Lang in Grieg’s Piano Concerto. “The evening began with a ceremony to rename the hall for Mr. Geffen in recognition of his [$100 million] donation.” The building has been known as Avery Fisher Hall since 1973. “Mr. Schafer said $20 million of his gift would be divided between the endowment campaign and the renovation project, and that $5 million would continue to support the free parks concerts.”
In photo: At the New York Philharmonic’s opening night, from left: Philharmonic Executive Director Matthew VanBesien, Philharmonic Board Chairman Oscar S. Schafer, pianist Emanuel Ax, Katherine Farley of Lincoln Center, donor David Geffen, and Lincoln Center President Jed Bernstein. Credit: Richard Termine
Posted September 25, 2015
