By: Lieba Nesis

The New York social season officially kicks off when the Metropolitan Opera holds its opening gala which took place at Lincoln Center on Tuesday September 26th 2023 at 6:30 PM.  “Dead Man Walking” by Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally was the unfortunate choice for this extravagant evening that was replete with luminaries the likes of which I have not seen since Anthony Minghella’s September 2006 debut of Madama Butterfly.  Jon Hamm, Ben Stiller, Anne Hathaway, Angela Bassett, Michael Kors, Whoopi Goldberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Marcia Gay Harden, Tim Robbins and Patrick Stewart joined thousands of others for a lugubrious evening that was unfortunately political.

General Manager Peter Gelb chose a piece intended to elicit sympathy for death row inmate Joseph De Rocher who stabbed and raped a girl repeatedly while begging for mercy from the judicial system.  Despite the moving performances of Joyce DiDonato and Ryan McKinny nothing could overcome the macabre subject matter which left many apoplectic at the bleeding heart liberal undertones frequently championed by Gelb.  Who can forget the Anti-Semitic 2014 “Death of Klinghoffer” opening where hundreds rallied in opposition-to no avail.

The need for art to push boundaries is futile when a repertoire of magnificent classics such as La Boheme, and Rigoletto readily await.  The Met is in trouble as costs rise and ticket sales decline with its annual $300 million budget forcing them to dip into their endowment and scale back offerings.  In a hail mary move contemporary operas which attract more robust audiences currently comprise more than a third of the programming. Forcing the audience to sit through three hours of this liberal snoozefest which was equally provocative as it was boring is not the answer. The finale which featured a live execution by injection failed to muster the drama it was desperately seeking.  Yes there were the usual standing ovations the opera garners but it seemed more obligatory than heartfelt as the well heeled guests headed to Geffen Hall for a $2,500 per person dinner that featured speeches, dinner and picture-taking.

I was a bit more hopeful for Wednesday night September 27th where the New York Philharmonic’s Opening Gala featured conductor Jaap Van Zweden beginning his farewell season along with famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma performing Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, Tchaikovsky’s Capriccio Italien and Dvorak’s Cello Concerto at the Wu Tsai Theater at David Geffen Hall.  These tickets were sold out months in advance with a lengthy waitlist that saw little movement. The gravitas of Yo-Yo Ma along with the expertise of Van Zweden was undeniable; however expectations were unmet.  While Yo-Yo Ma’s Dvorak Concerto was competent it lacked the punch many were anticipating despite the incredible acoustics of the newly constructed hall.

There was also a feeling of unfinished business due to an underwhelming finale. While a general sense of fatigue permeated the evening an hour and a half later the glitterati stayed on the second floor’s Hess Grand Promenade for a lavish dinner honoring outgoing CEO Deborah Borda who announced a record breaking $4 million had been raised to plaudits from the who’s who of New York.  Even Hillary Clinton joined the festivities as enthusiastic guests slobbered over the former politician while Yo-Yo Ma thanked supporters of the Philharmonic in a pithy speech that was hardly intelligible.

A post-Covid New York is busier than ever with ten galas per week, along with restaurant and store openings.  However, billionaire Michael Rubin chose the halls of Atlantic City to host his Reform Alliance shindig which included blackjack, a dinner and an afterparty where rappers Travis Scott, Meek Mill, and Lil Baby performed. Saturday night September 30th 300 attendees paid $50,000 per person to engage in one of those evenings that won’t soon be forgotten.  Jay-Z, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Brady, and Kim Kardashian helicoptered into the Ocean Resort Casino for one night only and helped raise a whopping $24 million.

The evening failed to rival Rubin’s Hamptons white party yet definitely provided some much needed glamour to the streets of Atlantic City.  Ocean Casino Resort is one of those top notch hotels more reminiscent of a Wynn Vegas locale as celebrities frequent the magnificent edifice situated on the ocean.  This was the only suitable venue for Rubin who continues to dominate the celebrity party landscape from Super Bowl to July 4th.  The upcoming week is equally starry with Carnegie Hall, and the New York City Ballet holding galas replete with gowns, celebrities, food and performances-typical New York City fare.