Carnegie Hall Honors Its Historic “Concert of the Century” With All-Star Gala

May 7

May 7 Carnegie Hall Honors Its Historic “Concert of the Century” With All-Star Gala

Carnegie Hall marked a major milestone on May 5 with a gala celebration honoring the 50th anniversary of its legendary “Concert of the Century,” bringing together an extraordinary lineup of performers, patrons, and cultural figures for an evening that paid tribute to the institution’s past while looking toward its future.

Originally staged in 1976 by famed violinist Isaac Stern, the first “Concert of the Century” became one of the most historic nights in Carnegie Hall’s history. This year’s anniversary event revisited that spirit with a newly assembled cast of celebrated artists performing inside the iconic venue 135 years after Carnegie Hall first opened in 1891.

Taylor Schreiber, Liev Schreiber, Elizabeth Segerstrom, Famke Janssen
Photo by BFA

The evening was led by conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin alongside the NYO-USA All-Stars, a group of standout alumni from Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America. The musical program reflected Carnegie Hall’s deep ties to classical history while also highlighting artists who continue shaping its modern legacy.

Renée Fleming hosted the gala and joined the orchestra and the Oratorio Society of New York for Mozart’s Laudate Dominum. Other standout performances throughout the evening included Lang Lang performing Tchaikovsky, Joyce DiDonato appearing alongside Emanuel Ax in selections from Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder, and Daniil Trifonov taking on Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F. Audra McDonald also brought her signature presence to the stage with songs by Ellington and Gershwin, accompanied by longtime collaborator Andy Einhorn.

The black-tie gala drew an influential crowd from across the worlds of entertainment, philanthropy, fashion, and the arts. Guests included Katie Holmes, Liev Schreiber and Taylor Neisen, Constance Wu, Candace Bushnell, Michael and Victoria Imperioli, Famke Janssen, Ellen Burstyn, Kehinde Wiley, Dana and Robert Kraft, and many others.

Elizabeth Segerstrom served as Gala Lead Chair for the evening, with support from Gala Chairs and Co-Chairs including Robert F. Smith, Anya Gillinson, Joan and Sanford I. Weill, Mercedes T. Bass, Marco Argenti, and others.

The celebration extended beyond the performance itself with a cocktail reception in Carnegie Hall’s Rohatyn Room followed by a dinner at the Waldorf Astoria New York honoring Clive Gillinson’s twenty years as Executive and Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall. During the evening, speakers reflected on Gillinson’s role in expanding Carnegie Hall’s artistic reach, educational initiatives, and broader cultural impact around the world.

Another highlight of the night was the unveiling of the Carnegie Hall Limited Edition piano created in partnership with Steinway & Sons. Inspired by the architecture and design details of Carnegie Hall itself, the limited-edition instrument was introduced during the gala dinner and celebrates the longstanding partnership between the two historic New York institutions. Only fifty of the pianos will be produced.

The gala ultimately raised $3.5 million in support of Carnegie Hall’s artistic, educational, and social impact programming, reinforcing the institution’s continued role not only as one of the world’s most celebrated performance venues, but also as a major force in shaping the future of music and arts education.