(Image from David Patrick Columbia's NYC Social Diary)
Last night in NYC's Waldorf Astoria Grand Ballroom, the American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra hosted a Gala event, including a concert and dinner all in the name of the conductor who could manage to even wear flip-flops stylishly, Leonard Bernstein.
Lenny’s daughter Jamie Bernstein MC'd the event, which included a concert sampling from four of his musicals; Candide, On the Town, Wonderful Town and West Side Story. Michael Barrett conducted 50 members of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra with soprano Michelle Areyzaga, mezzosoprano Elizabeth Shammash, tenor Jeffrey Picon, and baritone Hugh Russell.
As we reported earlier, 2008 is the official "Year of The Lenny", and New York’s musical institutions are jumping on the Bernstein Bandwagon. Last night’s gala also included a special tribute by the iconic Tony Bennett -- tho his alter-ego, Anthony Benedetto, stayed home. The IPO is off next to San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Palm Beach for the more Lenny Gala madness.
Our bf4e&e David Patrick Columbia's New York Social Diary is hosting a nice video pastiche from the event, which can be found here. (Access point on this page if it does not load...just scroll down past Liz Smith's 84th birthday party @ the Russian Tea Room, & past the PEN Authors’ Evening.)