In Thursday’s (4/16) New York Times, Vivien Schweitzer writes, “One highlight of the worthy Young Concert Artists series is its annual Irene Diamond gala concert, which showcases recent winners of the organization’s auditions, with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. A harpist [Emmanuel Ceysson], pianist [Jean-Frédéric Neuburger], and mezzo-soprano [Sasha Cooke] were the stellar soloists at a concert ably conducted by Giancarlo Guerrero at Alice Tully Hall on Tuesday. But the Young Concert Artists—a nonprofit organization that has promoted musicians like Emanuel Ax, Murray Perahia and Dawn Upshaw—will not present the concert next year, because of budget woes and thinning donations. … In addition to axing the gala concert, the organization will lower cash prizes for audition winners to $2,000 from $5,000. And its annual series of recitals, which in recent years has been presented in Zankel Hall, will be in Merkin Concert Hall next season, Ms. Wadsworth said, adding it would save about $10,000 per concert. The opening-night program will still be presented in Zankel.”
Posted April 16, 2009
