Carnegie Hall

Carnegie Hall’s season launch was a dazzling celebration of music and bicoastal comradery, with an incredible performance by the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the baton of Maestro Gustavo Dudamel with soloists Lang Lang and Gustavo Castillo. Guests started the evening with a festive cocktail party prior to the memorable concert and, after an encore, made their way to Cipriani 42nd Street to celebrate the evening’s success with a black-tie gala dinner. The benefit event raised $5 million in support of Carnegie Hall’s expansive artistic, education, and social impact programs.

Carnegie Hall offers deep thanks to our Gala Lead Chairmen, Mercedes T. Bass and Hope and Robert F. Smith, and Gala Chairmen Committee members Len and Emily Blavatnik, Maral and Sarkis Jebejian, Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis, Karen and Dennis M. Nally, Allison Rosier, Beatrice Santo Domingo, Elizabeth Segerstrom, David M. Siegel and Dana Matsushita, Vista Friends of Hope and Robert F. Smith, and Joan and Sanford I. Weill. Our deepest thanks go to Lead Sponsor Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Major Sponsor PwC.

Carnegie Hall was thrilled to launch the 2023–2024 season with a tremendous performance by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and superstar violinist Leonidas Kavakos led by Maestro Riccardo Muti. It was a spectacular close to Maestro Muti’s incredible tenure as Music Director of the CSO. The celebration was bookended by a festive cocktail party prior to the concert and a black-tie gala dinner afterward at Cipriani 42nd Street. The evening raised a record-breaking $5.6 million in support of Carnegie Hall’s expansive and innovative artistic, education, and social impact programs.

Carnegie Hall salutes the generosity of our Gala Lead Chairmen, Mercedes T. Bass and Hope and Robert F. Smith, and Gala Chairmen Committee members Veronica Atkins, Len and Emily Blavatnik, Maral and Sarkis Jebejian, Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis, Beatrice Santo Domingo, David M. Siegel and Dana Matsushita, Vista Friends of Hope and Robert F. Smith, and Joan and Sanford I. Weill. Our deepest thanks go to Corporate Chairmen Dennis M. Nally, Roy Weathers, and Brad Silver, and PwC, Lead Sponsor for the 20th consecutive season, as well as to Dinner Sponsor Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

Carnegie Hall was delighted to launch the 2022–2023 season with a tremendous performance by The Philadelphia Orchestra and pianist Daniil Trifonov led by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. The celebration was launched with a festive cocktail party prior to the concert and continued with a black-tie gala dinner afterward at Cipriani 42nd Street. The evening raised over $5.5 million in support of Carnegie Hall’s expansive and innovative artistic, education, and social impact programs.

Carnegie Hall salutes the generosity of our Gala Lead Chairmen, Mercedes T. Bass and Hope and Robert F. Smith, and Gala Chairmen Committee members Len and Emily Blavatnik, Maral and Sarkis Jebejian, Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis, Beatrice Santo Domingo, Tracy Chutorian Semler and Eric Semler, David M. Siegel and Dana Matsushita, Vista Friends of Hope and Robert Smith, and Joan and Sanford I. Weill. Our deepest thanks go to our Corporate Chairmen Dennis M. Nally, Roy Weathers, and Brad Silver, and PwC, Lead Sponsor for the 19th consecutive season, as well as to Dinner Sponsor Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

After 572 days without live in-person performances, Carnegie Hall was thrilled to welcome audiences back at our Opening Night Gala on October 6, 2021. It was a joyous experience to hear music fill the Hall once again with a world-class performance by The Philadelphia Orchestra and Yuja Wang led by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. The celebration culminated in a homecoming black-tie gala dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street. The evening raised more than $5 million to continue the legacy of Carnegie Hall’s artistic, educational, and social impact programs. To watch (or re-watch) the gala video shown at the event, please visit carnegiehall.org/OpeningNight2021.

Carnegie Hall extends its deepest appreciation to Gala Lead Chairmen Mercedes T. Bass and Hope and Robert F. Smith, and Gala Chairmen Committee members Len and Emily Blavatnik, Annette de la Renta, Maral and Sarkis Jebejian, Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis, Beatrice Santo Domingo, David M. Siegel and Dana Matsushita, S. Donald Sussman, and Joan and Sanford I. Weill. Our great thanks go to our Corporate Chairmen Dennis M. Nally, Roy Weathers, and Brad Silver, and PwC, Lead Sponsor for the 18th consecutive season, as well as to Dinner Sponsor Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

On October 3, Carnegie Hall launched its 2019–2020 season with a record-breaking Opening Night Gala that featured a world-class performance by The Cleveland Orchestra and soloists Anne-Sophie Mutter, Lynn Harrell, and Yefim Bronfman under the baton of Franz Welser-Möst. Gala guests enjoyed a quintessentially New York evening that began with a cocktail reception at Carnegie Hall and culminated in an elegant black-tie dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street, which was transformed into a “view from the stage,” placing guests directly in the music and giving them a glimpse into the vantage point of the world’s greatest musicians.

Carnegie Hall extends its deepest appreciation to Lead Gala Chairmen Mercedes T. Bass and Hope and Robert F. Smith, as well as to the entire Gala Chairmen Committee: Len and Emily Blavatnik, Annette de la Renta, Sabrina W. Fung, Maral and Sarkis Jebejian, Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis, Sana H. Sabbagh, Jean and Melanie Salata, Beatrice Santo Domingo, Elizabeth Segerstrom, Brian and Adria Sheth, David M. Siegel and Dana Matsushita, Ian and Margaret Smith, S. Donald Sussman, and Joan and Sanford I. Weill. We also gratefully acknowledge Corporate Chairmen Dennis M. Nally and Roy Weathers of PwC, our Opening Night Gala Lead Sponsor for the 16th consecutive season, as well as this year’s Dinner Sponsor Kirkland & Ellis LLP for their gracious generosity.

On October 3, Carnegie Hall launched its 2018-2019 season with an Opening Night Gala celebration that brought Paris to New York City for a night of splendor and great fun. The San Francisco Symphony, under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas, began the festivities with a thrilling concert featuring soprano super stars Renée Fleming and Audra McDonald. Following the concert, the gala festivities continued at Cipriani 42nd Street under glittering lights and Parisian scenery. Our deepest appreciation goes to Gala Lead Chairmen Mercedes T. Bass and Hope and Robert F. Smith, as well as our entire Gala Chairmen Committee: Len and Emily Blavatnik, Annette de la Renta, Sabrina W. Fung, Sana H. Sabbagh, Melanie and Jean Salata, Beatrice Santo Domingo, Brian and Adria Sheth, David M. Siegel and Dana Matsushita, Ian and Margaret Smith, S. Donald Sussman, and Joan and Sanford I. Weill. We also are extraordinarily grateful to Corporate Chairmen Dennis M. Nally and Roy Weathers as well as our Opening Night Gala Lead Sponsor PwC for the 15th consecutive season.

On October 4, Carnegie Hall launched its 2017–2018 season with our Opening Night Gala celebration of Leonard Bernstein’s centennial. The evening began with a thrilling performance led by Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin featuring The Philadelphia Orchestra, Lang Lang, Chick Corea, and Maxim Lando. Following the concert, the gala festivities continued at Cipriani 42nd Street to create a quintessential New York evening. Our deepest appreciation goes to Gala Lead Chairmen Mercedes T. Bass and Hope and Robert Smith, as well as our entire Gala Chairmen Committee: Len and Emily Blavatnik, Aisha and Gbenga Oyebode, Annette de la Renta, Sana H. Sabbagh, Beatrice Santo Domingo, Brian and Adria Sheth, David M. Siegel and Dana Matsushita, Margaret and Ian Smith, and Joan and Sanford I. Weill. We also are extraordinary grateful to Corporate Chairman Dennis M. Nally and our Opening Night Gala Lead Sponsor PwC for the 14th consecutive season.