Festivals
Carnegie Hall presents major international and national festivals to offer audiences opportunities to undertake compelling journeys of discovery, which include not only extraordinary concerts at Carnegie Hall, but also films, lectures, readings, museum exhibits, and more, through partnerships with other cultural institutions. Equally important to each festival are educational programs in the New York City schools, designed to stimulate the imagination of students and nurture their creativity.
2010–2011
Part I: December 2010
Part II: March–April 2011
JapanNYC, a citywide festival led by Artistic Director Seiji Ozawa, explores the Japan of today, where new-found artistic sensibilities continue to transform and revitalize the cultural landscape. Featuring great classical music artists as well as Noh theater, manga, butoh dance, pop art exhibitions, and a variety of music genres, JapanNYC embraces a breathtaking diversity of traditional and contemporary arts. The cornerstones to the festival are provided by Maestro Ozawa himself, as he leads performances by two major Japanese ensembles that he founded, the Saito Kinen Orchestra and the Seiji Ozawa Ongaku-juku (Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Orchestra).
2009–2010
October 21–November 10, 2009
China’s hold on the world’s imagination has never been greater than it is today. This remarkable nation finds itself at an important historical moment, inspiring an abundance of cultural activities by artists both within and outside of its borders. Ancient Paths, Modern Voices pays tribute to this vibrant culture and its influence around the globe with 21 days of events and exhibitions at Carnegie Hall and partner institutions throughout New York City.
Ancient Paths, Modern Voices: A Festival Celebrating Chinese Culture ›
2008–2009
March 4–23, 2009
From the drumbeats of Mother Africa to the work songs and Spirituals created in a new land, a path is traced to the blues, gospel, jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, and hip-hop expressions of African Americans that are celebrated throughout the world. The classical music performers have become icons of concert halls and opera stages everywhere.
In charting the story of this great cultural tradition, I invite you on a personal journey that honors the trailblazers and the courageous artists of the past through concerts, recitals, lectures, panel discussions, and exhibitions hosted by Carnegie Hall, the Apollo Theater, The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and other sites around the city. This vast cultural fabric of the African American experience consists not only of the music, but also the words, the images, and the dances of a people, all providing rich fulfillment of the Langston Hughes credo: “Hold fast to dreams.”
—Jessye Norman
Honor! A Celebration of the African American Cultural Legacy Curated by Jessye Norman › Festival Events › Honor! Passport ›
September 12–December 13, 2008
To commemorate the 90th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein’s birth, and the 50th anniversary of his appointment as music director of the New York Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall and the New York Philharmonic present a celebration featuring more than 30 events in seven different venues throughout New York City.
Bernstein: The Best of All Possible Worlds › Festival Events › About Leonard Bernstein › Bernstein Timeline › Educational Resources: The Mass Project › Videos & Multimedia ›
2007–2008
November 2–18, 2007
In November 2007, Carnegie Hall and partner venues throughout New York City presented a snapshot of contemporary Berlin.
Berlin in Lights › Read the Festival Blog › View Photos from the Festival › Watch Video from The Dance Project ›