As first reported by West Side Rag and confirmed in an email by the Central Park Conservancy, the iconic Great Lawn will officially close until, at least, April of 2024, as a result of major damages incurred during last month’s Global Citizen Festival featuring the likes of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Lauryn Hill.

“The Central Park Conservancy is very disappointed that the iconic Great Lawn is now closed and unavailable for New Yorkers to enjoy this fall,” said a spokesperson for the organization in an official statement.“The use of heavy equipment and intense foot traffic in the saturated conditions from the September 23 concert damaged a large portion of the lawn and fully destroyed a third of it. Our team is now working to restore the lawn, hopefully in time to reopen this spring.”

Although the closure is certainly a hard hit given the overall lack of green spaces in the concrete jungle we call home, we can’t say we’re surprised about the happening. In fact, thousands of folks attended the free music festival back in September despite heavy rain. Add to that the jumping and stomping that define any similar experiences and the machines used to put up and maintain the stage and you’ve got yourself a recipe for disaster.

Officials explained that the “fully destroyed” section of the park needs a total re-seeding, which Global Citizen will pay for. In fact, the organization has always covered the cost of damages to the park since it first launched in 2012. 

A spokesperson for the festival went on the record about the event with West Side Rag.“This year’s rainfall meant closer alignment with city agencies and stakeholders than ever before,” said the spokesperson. “In the months leading up to the festival on September 23, and daily in the week before the event, we worked closely with the NYC Mayor’s Office, NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, Office of Emergency Management, NYPD, FDNY and the Central Park Conservancy. Ultimately, the City of New York, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Central Park Conservancy, determined that this year’s festival should go ahead.”

Although the Great Lawn does usually close to the public from late November through April, having to shutter now has clearly affected New Yorkers who were hoping to be able to spend some time there during early fall—especially given the 80 degree temperatures we’re seeing this week. 

* This article was originally published here

In one week, Music Director Tomàs Grau will lead Filharmonia in works by Casals, Rodrigo, and Dvořák with Guitar Soloist Rafael Aguirre for its debut performance at Carnegie Hall.

Franz Schubert Filharmonia is comprised of some of Spain’s best musicians to create a “new generation” orchestra. On Tuesday, October 10th, Filharmonia will bring its notable talent to NYC for its first ever concert in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall. 

The Filharmonia has hosted its signature concert series at UNESCO World Heritage Site, Palau de la Música Catalana, for over a decade. And now, New Yorkers have the special opportunity to experience the magic for themselves.

The night’s emblematic program will honor the significant cultural and historical links between Spain and the United States of America. Presenting side-by-side works of Rodrigo and Dvořák as the Filharmonia once did in 1940, it will surely be a remarkable evening.

“I decided to be a conductor while growing up watching symphony concerts at the Palau de la Música in Barcelona, my hometown,” said Artistic Director Tomàs Grau. “It’s personally exciting to be able to conduct the same program that premiered at the Palau de la Música many years ago, now at Carnegie Hall.”

The performance also aligns with the 130th anniversary of the premiere of Dvořák’s New World Symphony.

As resident orchestra of El Vendrell, the birthplace of Pablo Casals, the Filharmonia will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Casals’ death in 2023 by adding Sant Martí del Canigó to the program.

Previous collaborations of Franz Schubert Filharmonia include the likes of Gautier Capuçon, Steven Isserlis and Sabine Meyer.

Find your seat inside the iconic Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage where the performance begins at 8:00pm. Tickets range from $18-$89.

Event details

Franz Schubert Filharmonia

Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets: $18 – $89

More info


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The post The Renowned Franz Schubert Filharmonia Is Performing At Carnegie Hall Next Week appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network (NAN) announce this year’s Triumph Awards recipients will be Tony Award-winning actor Leslie Odom Jr, the cast and producers of Ossie Davis’ Broadway revival play Purlie Victorious, Fearless Fund cofounders Arian Simone and Ayana Parsons, the Anti-Defamation League’s Jonathan Greenblatt, U.S. Track & Field’s Max Siegel, and the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival’s Stephanie and Floyd Rance.

The roster will be honored for their cultural, social, and philanthropic impact at this year’s Triumph Awards on October 16^th at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

“The Triumph Awards recognize those cultural influencers who use their platform to drive social change in their respective fields,” said Sharpton. “As we keep the momentum from the March on Washington building and take a stand against those who seek to undo our civil rights, it has never been more important to celebrate those who use their celebrity to get people off the sideline. The National Action Network is excited to celebrate Leslie, the cast and crew of Purlie, Arian, Ayana, Jonathan, Max, Stephanie and Floyd this October.”

The Triumph Awards stands as a cultural celebration, dedicated to honoring influential figures for their continuous efforts within their respective communities to champion social, racial, and economic justice. In the backdrop of pressing civil rights concerns, this year’s ceremony takes on an even more critical role: violent hate crimes against Black, Brown, Jewish, and AAPI Americans remain a recurring headline; legislation targeting LGBTQ+ rights pose its greatest threat; and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives have come under attack.

The post Rev. Al Sharpton and NAN unveil 2023 Triumph Awards honorees appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here