Author: Oberon
Tuesday May 5th, 2026 – Lane and I were at Carnegie Hall tonight, celebrating the 50th anniversary of its fabled “Concert of the Century” which took place on May 18th, 1976. Organized by Isaac Stern, that program had featured some of the world’s greatest musicians, joining together to commemorate the anniversary of the Hall’s opening on May 5, 1891.
Tonight’s program, which, on paper, looked likely to be quite lengthy, actually sped by; the finale was reached after about 90 minutes. How cool of Renee Fleming to give a gracious “thank you” to the stage crew, who deftly moved a concert grand about as needed. Renee, in addition to singing luminously in a Mozart piece, was the most congenial hostess imaginable.
The venerable Hall filled up slowly, with gorgeously-gowned ladies and black-clad blokes like us mingling whilst the young musicians of the NYO-USA All-Stars and the singers from the Oratorio Society of New York (director: Kent Tritle) took to the stage.
A fantastical set of projections lit up the space throughout the program: quotes from Andrew Carnegie, photos of great Carnegie concert posters from the past, pictures of musical luminaries who performed there, and scenes from city life all mixed into a montage that might have been a distraction but for the fact it was so skillfully designed.
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the world’s busiest conductor, presided over the evening, which opened with the spirited overture to Bernstein’s CANDIDE and continued with a dazzling rendition of the Allegro molto vivace from Tchaikovsky’s “Pathétique” symphony.
As the backdrop morphed into heavenly rays of sun peeking thru billowing clouds, the familiar opening theme of Mozart’s Laudate Dominum filled the Hall. Ms. Fleming, backed by the Oratorio Society singers, sang serenely, her voice – as ever – so comforting.
Evgeny Kissin sadly withdrew from the evening due to illness; hopefully he’ll bounce back in time for his ‘trio’ concert with Joshua Bell and Steven Isserlis here on May 31st.
Joyce DiDonato, in a glittering, sequined gown of bright red, was joined by the beloved pianist Emmanuel Ax for two songs from Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder. “Ich atmet’ einen linden Duft” was sung and played with a heavenly softness that drew the audience in. Surpassing themselves, singer and pianist then gave an extraordinarily poignant rendering of the heartfelt “Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen“…for me, the most meaningful song in all of the lieder repertoire.
Backed by the orchestra, Daniil Trifonov gave us a wild and wonderful performance of the Allegro agitato from Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F. Looking very dapper as he strode onto the stage, the pianist was as entertaining to watch as to hear. The climax of the piece is a glorious bang on a gong. Bravissimo, Daniil and the All Stars!
Above, Audra McDonald with pianist Andy Einhorn; photo by Chris Lee.
I had never heard Audra McDonald nor Michael Feinstein “live” before, though I’ve very much enjoyed Audra in her television appearances as an actress (especially in “The Gilded Age” and “The Good Wife”/”The Good Fight”). Looking svelte and lovely in a blue gown, she and pianist Andy Einhorn gave us Ellington’s “Sophisticated Lady” and Gershwin’s “Fascinating Rhythm”, sung and played with fabulous flair. Audra dedicated her set to the memory of the late, lamented Michael Tilson Thomas. Between songs, she had some charming by-play with her reading glasses. During the applause, I was wondering: why do I feel some strange connection to this woman? Answer: we share a birthday.
How well I remember when Michael Feinstein came of the scene…such a handsome fellow, such a relaxed and congenial personality. Unfortunately, we sat thru his set listening to an annoying soto voce conversation from the couple behind us (I won’t tell you what language they were speaking, but it’s something that has cropped up many times before in my concert-going career; my pal Dmitry would have known how to silence them…). At any rate, Michael charmed and delighted the crowd with Arthur Schwartz’s “That’s Entertainment” in an arrangement by Jerry Herman which changes the lyrics to “That’s JudyGarland!” He then followed up with a salute to Tony Bennett with Michel Legrand’s “How Do You Keep the Music Playing”. Mr. Feinstein looks (and sounds) as handsome as ever, with his trademark gift for making you feel that he is singing just for you.
Speaking of musicians I’d never seen “live” before, tonight Lang Lang – performing Tchaikovsky’s Allegro con fuoco from Piano Concerto No. 1 – dazzled the crowd with his spectacular playing. Alternating sublimely soft passages with thunderous displays of speed and dexterity, he brought down the house. His melodramatic stage presence is kind of off-putting, but apparently it’s part of the package.
Isabel Leonard, dressed in pale violet, tossed off the brilliant finale from Rossini’s CENERENTOLA. Aided and abetted by monsieur Nézet-Séguin and his All-Stars, Ms. Leonard sang sweetly as she attempted to console her disappointed father and step-sisters – who had always treated her badly – before celebrating her new-found happiness with the scales and roulades of the brilliant “Non piu mesta“, dispatched with flair. The comely mezzo, much admired by my companion, seems wonderfully at home in the Carnegie acoustic, which suits her to a T.
The pandemic was recalled by a performance of Valerie Coleman’s “Seven O’Clock Shout“, amiable music which includes an actual shout from everyone onstage.
And then, the evening’s grand finale loomed before us, ending – as it had started – with music from Leonard Bernstein’s CANDIDE: “Make Our Garden Grow“, with everyone onstage participating. It was especially fun watching Ms. Leonard sharing a songbook with Lang Lang.
Performance photos by Chris Lee, courtesy of Carnegie Hall.
~ Oberon
Oberon's Glade 