Carnegie Hall will resound with music both morning and night on the 100th anniversary of its first concert, with one top name in classical music after another promising to perform.
Organizers announced plans for a season of special concerts to mark the passage of a century since the May 5, 1891, opening concert at the hall, culminating in an all-day gala on that concert's 100th anniversary.Violinist Isaac Stern, who is also Carnegie Hall president, said the hall's 1990-91 season will be "probably the most extraordinary season that any hall has ever had."
On May 5, 1991, the day will begin with a morning concert of nine choruses led by Robert Shaw. A concert by the New York Philharmonic will begin at 4 p.m. After a break for dinner, the concert will resume.
Among artists already booked are Leonard Bernstein, Zubin Mehta, Placido Domingo, the Empire Brass Quintet, Marilyn Horne, Yo-Yo Ma, Jessye Norman, Leontyne Price, Mstislav Rostropovich, Rudolf Serkin, Pinchas Zukerman and Stern.
Judith Arron, executive director of the hall, said the budget for next season has been increased to $13.2 million from $7.5 million to bring in a large number of leading musicians.
The centennial season will begin with a free concert in Central Park on Aug. 20, a salute to Carnegie by the New York Philharmonic conducted by Mehta, with Stern as violin soloist.
Opening night in the hall itself will be Sept. 26 and will feature Andre Previn conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic with violinist Itzhak Perlman as soloist.
The nine days leading up to the May 5 gala will include concerts featuring Van Cliburn as piano soloist with the New York Philharmonic; the Boston Symphony conducted by Seiji Ozara with Rostropovich as cello soloist; soprano Kathleen Battle in her Carnegie Hall recital debut; a jazz concert organized by Wynton Marsalis, and a folk music concert organized by Pete Seeger.
Arron said the hall is commissioning new works from 14 composers to premiere there during the season, calling it "the most ambitious commissioning project ever undertaken by a presenting institution in this country."