New York Times Reviews Central Park Concert

Views Back (and Forward) on an Outdoor Stage
By ANTHONY TOMMASINI
Published: July 17, 2008

When the conductor Alan Gilbert was a boy, some of his first inspiring experiences with classical music came from attending the New York Philharmonic抯 concerts in the city抯 parks. At the time he was tagging along with his parents, both violinists in the orchestra, he explained to the crowd that turned out for Tuesday night抯 Philharmonic concert in Central Park.

揑 love the New York Philharmonic, I love New York, I love Central Park, and I love the Philharmonic抯 concerts in the parks,�Mr. Gilbert told the audience.

Then, after mentioning that his mother, Yoko Takebe, was still playing with the orchestra, he turned to her and said, 揌i, Mom!,�which brought applause from all corners of the Great Lawn, where 63,000 people, according to official estimate, had turned out to hear some music and enjoy the perfect weather.

Mr. Gilbert is poised to become the Philharmonic抯 music director in the fall of 2009. That he was so eager to conduct this summer抯 final park concert, only his second (the first was on Monday night at Prospect Park in Brooklyn), seemed an encouraging indicator of his desire to connect with New York audiences.

The concert was terrific. For the first half the enormously popular young pianist Lang Lang was the soloist in Tchaikovsky抯 Piano Concerto. Onstage was a concert grand of a rich red color. Chinese Red?

It is one of only two red Steinways in the world, Mr. Lang said, speaking in English from notes he had jotted down. It is being auctioned to raise money to aid the victims of the May 12 earthquake in China, 搈y home country,�he said. Read the Full Review

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Steinway Piano Auction Goes Live!

To further aid in the China earthquake relief efforts, Steinway will donate the net proceeds from the sale of the red Steinway Concert Grand Piano that Lang Lang played during his free concert with the New York Philharmonic in New York's Central Park, July 15th, 2008. This rare, red piano - of which only two exist in the entire world - is being auctioned off via Ebay. Please click here to give your best offer and help the China earthquake victims today.

Bids can be placed here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320275932079