With Geffen Hall, NY Phil gets a fresh, better sounding home
After a $550 million renovation that took two years, the New York Philharmonic returns to Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall
NEW YORK (AP) — Forced from their offices early in the pandemic, key leaders of the New York Philharmonic and Lincoln Center met in July 2020 under the trees of the venue’s Capital Grove patio to try to finally solve a decadeslong problem.
Could they accelerate the timetable to address their albatross: the orchestra’s much maligned, sonically challenged home?
“It was a group moment, like wow, the hall’s going to be closed down,” recalled Philharmonic President Deborah Borda. “Well, let’s get started.”
After a $550 million renovation that took two years, the 180-year-old orchestra returns to David Geffen Hall for a series of openings beginning with a Thursday night ribbon-cutting, a Friday performance for construction workers and Saturday community concerts featuring the world premiere of Etienne Charles’ “San Juan Hill: A New York Story.”
