Opening Night Gala
Carnegie Hall celebrates the launch of each new season with a spectacular Opening Night Gala every fall! Featuring electrifying performances by the greatest orchestras and soloists in the world, these black-tie evenings begin with gala guests toasting the season at an exclusive cocktail reception and crescendo to an elegant dinner.
For more information on the next Opening Night Gala as it is announced, join our mailing list by sending your name and mailing address to the Special Events Office at specialevents@carnegiehall.org.
2019 Opening Night
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 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.
2018 Opening Night
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 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.
2017 Opening Night
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.
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.
