Most of us can only dream of a birthday party like this! Carnegie Hall marked its 125th birthday with a celebration featuring some very talented guests who have graced its stage over the years. Renee Fleming, Isabel Leonard, Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Lang Lang, Emanuel Ax, Michael Feinstein and James Taylor performed at the festive event hosted by Richard Gere. WorldStage provided the projection and lighting packages for the evening.
Carnegie Hall’s opening in 1891 featured Tchaikovsky, in his only visit to America, conducting his “Marche Solennelle.” Since then the renowned concert venue has witnessed every type of musical performance and special event.
“We congratulate Carnegie Hall on 125 years of music and more in New York City,” says WorldStage president Josh Weisberg. “WorldStage was proud to support Wendall Harrington’s projection design and Alan Adelman’s lighting design for this historic event.”
WorldStage provided Harrington with Christie projectors and a Dataton WATCHOUT playback system to display an array of visuals that filled the entire back wall of the stage. Content included a mix of still and moving images; many were archival images of artists, composers and conductors who have graced Carnegie Hall’s stage.
A quick turnaround for the event – one day for load in and one day for rehearsal – provided a small challenge. “I’ve worked with Wendall for many years and that helped us maximize the small window of time we have to set up and adjust. In fact, most of the programming and all of the edge blending were done in full stage light in the middle of rehearsal,” says WorldStage project manager Randy Briggs. Daniel Brodie programmed the show.
Harrington adds, “I would not dream of embarking on a gig this important and with such time constraints without WorldStage, they were supportive and on point from the first conversation to load out “
Lighting designer Alan Adelman specified the lighting package, which supplemented Carnegie Hall’s house rig. The package was highlighted with Martin MAC Vipers, Martin MAC Aura LED’s, Clay Paky A.leda B-Eye K20’s and grandMA2 control. Adelman commented, “WorldStage provides the highest quality service and products, which I always appreciate.”
WorldStage Inc., the company created by the merger of Scharff Weisberg Inc and Video Applications Inc, continues a thirty-year legacy of providing clients the widest variety of entertainment technology coupled with conscientious and imaginative engineering services. WorldStage provides audio, video and lighting equipment and services to the event, theatrical, broadcast and brand experience markets nationally and internationally. For more information visit www.worldstage.com.
