2014 RECITAL SERIES
A NOTE FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Last autumn, we inaugurated the reopening of the Board of Officers Room with recitals by Christian Gerhaher, one of the greatest living baritone voices for lieder. He and the subsequent 2013 recitalists—violinist Vilde Frang and pianist Anton Batagov—could not have been more positive about our new recital space and its excellent acoustics. Invigorated by this, we welcome leading soloists to our 2014 recital series to perform major works from the classical music repertoire. Igor Levit masterfully interprets some of Beethoven's most cherished sonatas, István Várdai virtuosically performs a number of Bach's solo cello suites, and Anna Lucia Richter expertly brings to life some of Wolf's most sublime lieder—all while making their U.S. recital debuts. Together with the fearless talents of Manhattan's very own FLUX Quartet enlivening Morton Feldman's groundbreaking String Quartet No. 2, this year’s recital series offers rare opportunities to witness major new talent in New York performing some of the most inspiring music in this gem of a recital room. I hope you enjoy these intimate performances. Alex Poots Artistic Director, Park Avenue Armory
2014 RECITAL SERIES IN THE NEWLY RESTORED BOARD OF OFFICERS ROOM wednesday, march 12 at 8:00pm thursday, march 13 at 8:00pm
IGOR LEVIT, piano ALL-BEETHOVEN PROGRAM Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op.109 Vivace ma non troppo Prestissimo Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major, Op.110 Moderato cantabile molto espressivo Allegro molto Adagio ma non troppo – Fuga: Allegro ma non troppo Intermission Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op.111 Maestoso – Allegro con brio ed appassionato Arietta: Adagio molto, semplice e cantabile This performance is approximately one hour and fifteen minutes in length, including intermission.
The Recital Series is supported in part by a generous grant from Gwen Norton on behalf of the IKBS and The Reed Foundation, and with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Support for Park Avenue Armory’s artistic season has been generously provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Booth Ferris Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, the Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, the Marc Haas Foundation, the Leon Levy Foundation, the Juliet Lea Hillman Simonds Foundation, and the Isak and Rose Weinman Foundation.
SEASON SPONSORS
ABOUT THE PROGRAM Like the late string quartets, the late Beethoven piano sonatas are surrounded by their own mystique. Breaking a creative silence of several years, Beethoven changed his style for a second time here, moving beyond his “heroic” middle period into a more private artistic world. The five sonatas written between 1816 and 1822 significantly stretch the boundaries of the genre, and make unprecedented technical and musical demands on the performer. The last three of these monumental works are performed on tonight’s program.
changing the ascending intervals into descending ones), carries the sonata to its glorious and triumphant ending.
The E-major sonata starts with a cheerful “Vivace ma non troppo,” interrupted after only eight measures by a tragic “Adagio espressivo” whose melody soon dissolves in cadenzalike figurations. The cheerful melody returns, but the “Adagio espressivo” once again negates the happiness. Returning for the third time, the lighthearted music is brushed aside by the stormy second-movement “Prestissimo.”
The first movement continues the tragic C-minor tone of such earlier works as the “Pathétique” sonata or the Fifth Symphony. This is a memory of Beethoven’s “heroic” period— music of conflicts, struggle, temporary respites, and dramatic surges. However, the ending (soft and mysterious instead of powerful and sweeping) leaves no doubt that times have changed. The pianissimo last chord of the movement, identical to the first chord of the subsequent “Arietta,” forms a natural bridge between the two contrasting movements.
The slow last movement is a theme with variations. Variation form became increasingly important for Beethoven in the last decade of his life when he made this traditionally simple design into an utterly personal vehicle. In the course of six variations, the songful theme reaches sublime heights of expression before returning to simplicity at the end. Like its predecessor, the A-flat major sonata opens with a melody that is interrupted, this time by a pensive fermata (long-held note). Next we hear an almost literal quote from the minuet of the violin sonata Op. 30, No. 3, written two decades earlier, but the effect is completely different here as the minuet dissolves in a series of figurations in the highest register of the piano, adding a mystical dimension to the music. (This high register was only available on the newest pianos of Beethoven’s time!) Throughout the movement, brief bursts of energy are tempered by relaxed and wistful reminiscences of the past. The themes of the pithy second-movement scherzo come from two popular songs of the time. The middle section is equally succinct but with a less clear-cut melodic profile.
In the two-movement C-minor sonata, the ascent from turmoil to transcendence is so palpable that for over a hundred years now, commentators haven’t been able to resist fanciful metaphors like “resistance” and “submission,” “here” and “beyond” or, in a frequently evoked Buddhist analogy, Samsara (“desiring”) and Nirvana (“pure being”).
The “Arietta,” like the last movement of Op. 109, is a set of variations over a simple theme undergoing a series of profound transformations. After an innocent beginning, the rhythmic intricacies increase beyond all expectation. The piano simultaneously explores extremely high and low registers, and finally breaks into an ecstatic chain of sustained trills. Just before the end, the tonality, which has so far not left C major, suddenly changes to E-flat. The original key restored, the music reaches a powerful climax before settling into the ethereal calm of the final measures. © 2014 by Peter Laki
The first two movements form a kind of thesis and antithesis; the synthesis arrives in the finale, one of Beethoven’s most complex creations. The music begins in deep despair, with a few tentative measures played with the soft pedal and a sorrowful recitative. A section marked “Arioso dolente” (“Sorrowful arioso”)—a heart-rending lament—follows, relieved by a quiet but confident fugue whose theme is related to the opening measures of the first movement. The fugue grows and grows until it suddenly breaks off and the “Arioso dolente” reappears: the sorrows won’t go away so easily. A second fugal section, inverting the previous theme (that is, armoryonpark.org
ABOUT THE ARTIST The 2013-14 season marks Igor Levit’s debuts with the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and the Royal Flemish Philharmonic Antwerpen. He returns to London’s Barbican Hall performing Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra joined by Maxim Vengerov and Antonio Meneses. Together with the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, Mr. Levit will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 at the Musikverein Vienna. In addition to making his North American recital debut at the Armory, Mr. Levit performs solo recitals at the Berlin Philharmonie, Cologne Philharmonie, Munich’s Prinzregententheater, Alte Oper Frankfurt, London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Milan’s Conservatorio Sala Verdi, and Zurich’s famed Tonhalle. In spring 2014 Mr. Levit returns to Ludwigsburger Sommerfestspiele, the Schumann Fest Düsseldorf as well as to the Festival Heidelberger Frühling where he serves as Artistic Director for the Chamber Music Academy. In summer 2014 he is Artist-in-Residence at the Kissinger Sommer as well as at the Festival Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The latter comprises his debut with the Deutsches-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin under the baton of Tugan Sokhiev and projects with Kremerata Baltica and the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. At the Schubertiade, he continues his Beethoven Sonata cycle which began in autumn 2013 to great critical acclaim.
Born in Nizhny Novgorod in 1987, Mr. Levit moved with his family to Germany at age eight, where he completed his piano studies at Hannover Academy of Music, Theatre, and Media in 2009 with the highest academic and performance scores in the history of the institute. Mr. Levit has studied under the tutelage of Karl-Heinz Kämmerling, Matti Raekallio, Bernd Goetze, Lajos Rovatkay, and Hans Leygraf. As the youngest participant in the 2005 Arthur Rubinstein Competition in Tel Aviv, Mr. Levit won the Silver Prize, the Prize for Best Performer of Chamber Music, the “Audience Favorite” Prize, and the Prize for Best Performer of Contemporary Music. Previously, he had won the First Prize of the International Hamamtsu Piano Academy Competition in Japan. Since 2003, he has been a scholarship student at Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes as well as at Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben.
Highlights of the 2012-13 season included debuts with the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, WDR Sinfonieorchesterm, and Danish National Symphony Orchestra. Nominated by Laeiszhalle Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Kölner Philharmonie, and Festspielhaus Baden-Baden for the concert series “ECHO Rising Stars,” Mr. Levit debuted as a recitalist at Brussel’s Palais des Beaux Arts, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, the Musikverein Vienna, Town Hall Birmingham, and Stockholm’s Konserthus. Mr. Levit has also appeared with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Staatskapelle Dresden, Vienna Symphonic Orchestra, and the NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover. Composer Frederic Rzewski has dedicated eight sonatas of his cycle “Nano Sonaten” to Mr. Levit and is currently composing a world premiere for the young pianist in 2015. Among his chamber music partners are Lisa Batiashvili, Simon Bode, Ning Feng, Sol Gabetta, Maximilian Hornung, Valeriy Sokolov, Jörg Widmann, Maxim Vengerov, and Tabea Zimmermann.
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ABOUT THE ARMORY Part American palace, part industrial shed, Park Avenue Armory is dedicated to supporting unconventional works in the visual and performing arts that need non-traditional spaces for their full realization, enabling artists to create and audiences to experience epic and adventurous presentations that can not be mounted elsewhere in New York City. In its first six years, the Armory opened its doors to visionary artists, directors, and impresarios who provided extraordinary experiences in a range of art forms. Such was its impact that in December 2011, The New York Times noted, “Park Avenue Armory … has arrived as the most important new cultural institution in New York City.” Built between 1877 and 1881, Park Avenue Armory has been hailed as containing “the single most important collection of nineteenth century interiors to survive intact in one building” by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. The 55,000-square-foot Wade Thompson Drill Hall, with an 80-foot-high barrel vaulted roof, is one of the largest unobstructed spaces in New York City. The Armory’s magnificent reception rooms were designed by leaders of the American Aesthetic Movement, among them Louis Comfort Tiffany, Stanford White, Candace Wheeler, and Herter Brothers. The building is currently undergoing a $200-million renovation designed by Herzog & de Meuron.
PARK AVENUE ARMORY STAFF Rebecca Robertson, President and Executive Producer Alex Poots, Artistic Director Laura Allen, Executive Assistant to the President Elizabeth Bennett, Manager of Institutional Giving Liz Bickley, Event Manager David Burnhauser, Collection Manager Leandro Dasso, Porter Khemraj Dat, Accountant Jay T. Dority, Director of Facilities Lissa Frenkel, Managing Director Peter Gee, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Isabelle Harnoncourt, Senior Advisor, Special Projects Reginald Hunter, Building Mechanic Antonella Inserra, Office Manager Cassidy Jones, Education Director Allison Kline, Project Coordinator Ellen Knuti, Digital Marketing Manager Wayne Lowery, Security Director Heather Lubov, Chief Development Officer and VP of Planning Jason Lujan, Operations Manager Rebecca Mosena, Development Assistant Utsuki Otsuka, Production Coordinator Daniel Park, Tessitura Application Manager Michelle Perlin, Development Assistant
Charmaine Portis, Executive Assistant to Chief Development Officer Nancy Ramirez-Gomez, Porter Kirsten Reoch, Director of Design and Construction William Say, Superintendent Jerad Schomer, Technical Director Jennifer Stark, Special Projects Director Heather Thompson, Director of Membership and Events Tom Trayer, Director of Marketing Ted Vasquez, Finance Director Libby Vieira da Cunha, Youth Corps Coordinator Clyde Wagner, Senior Producer Monica Weigel, Education Coordinator Youth Corps Nisat Begum, Kathleen Burke, Lilia Chunir, Raymondy Ciceron, Jevon Daniels, Brian Espinal, Tanai Estwick, Kyla Gardner, Nancy Gomez, Eric Harris, Matthew Lopez, Stephanie Mesquita, Paola Ocampo, Alexandra Ortiz, Joanne Pereira Melo, Widline Valentin Production Acknowledgements Steinway and Sons
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NEXT IN THE RECITAL SERIES FLUX QUARTET
ANNA LUCIA RICHTER, soprano
april
october
26
2–6
“The Flux members approached their work with utmost seriousness, performing with painstaking care and utter conviction… proof that Feldman’s legacy is in good hands.” – The New York Times
“A wonderfully light, floating, luminous intonation with tender expressiveness. Singing as in a prayer: making one want to bend down on one’s knees in adoration.” – Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ)
The FLUX Quartet has “established its credentials as one of the most fearless and important new-music ensembles around,” playing with “precision and tenderness” (San Francisco Chronicle). Hailed by Alex Ross as “legendary for its furiously committed, untiring performances,” the intrepid ensemble brings their remarkable skill and passion to Morton Feldman’s String Quartet No. 2, a six-hour feat of endurance and transcendence for both performers and audience alike.
The songs of Hugo Wolf offer some of the greatest challenges in the entire lieder repertory for rising singers and vocal veterans alike, both for their nuanced musical subtlety and their complex interaction between prose and music. German soprano Anna Lucia Richter comes to the Board of Officers Room to interpret these glittering vocal works in her U.S. recital debut.
ISTVÁN VÁRDAI, cello may
21 – 22
“István Várdai is a special kind of genius... with perfect intonation, ample interpretation, impeccable tempo — in short, he is an incredible virtuoso.” – Parlando Thought to be some of the most beautiful and important compositions ever written for cello, Bach’s suites for unaccompanied cello are a collection of dances, each prefaced by a searching prelude. Cellist István Várdai makes his North American recital debut in a survey of these lauded works, from the open serenity of the G major to the powerful radiance of the D major, known as a “symphony for solo cello.”
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NEXT AT THE ARMORY MACBETH may
ST MATTHEW PASSION
31 – june 22
“Fast, furious and unstoppable … this Macbeth [knocks] the breath out of everyone, audience included.” – The New York Times Kenneth Branagh and Alex Kingston make their highlyanticipated New York stage debuts in the U.S. premiere of the intensely physical, fast-paced production by Branagh and Rob Ashford, which places the audience directly on the sidelines of battle, where blood, sweat, and the elements of nature can be directly felt as the action unfurls across the traverse stage.
october
7–8
“Astonishing … I challenge you not to be an emotional wreck by the end of it.” – The Guardian (London)
Support for this production has been provided by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and by Susan and Elihu Rose.
Regarded as one of the quintessential masterpieces of classical sacred music, Bach’s revered account of Christ’s Passion is ritualized by inventive director Peter Sellars, who creates a communal grieving process in a radically inclusive approach that eliminates the separation between artist and audience. Simon Rattle leads the Berliner Philharmoniker, a cast of superb singers, and extensive choral forces for the U.S. premiere of this epic production.
Commissioned and produced by Park Avenue Armory and Manchester International Festival.
Co-presented by Park Avenue Armory and Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival.
THE PASSENGER
The Berliner Philharmoniker residency in New York City is made possible by a leadership gift from the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation, and Marina Kellen French.
july
10 – 13
“In Mieczyslaw Weinberg’s holocaust opera The Passenger, we have one of the most unflinching engagements with this subject ever made.” – The Daily Telegraph (UK) Mieczyslaw Weinberg’s opera is an astonishing account of the horrors of World War II and the unshakable hold that memories and torment from that time can have, even today. Visionary director David Pountney brilliantly stages this landmark work, which only now makes its eagerly-awaited New York premiere. Co-presented by Park Avenue Armory and Lincoln Center Festival. The Passenger is a co-production of Bregenzer Festispiele, Teatr Wieki, English National Opera, and Teatro Real. Houston Grand Opera’s performances of The Passenger in New York are generously underwritten by Bill and Sara Morgan and Amanda and Morris Gelb.
Park Avenue Armory and Lincoln Center would like to thank Carnegie Hall for its collaboration in making possible these Berliner Philharmoniker performances.
tears become … streams become … douglas gordon & hélène grimaud december 9 – january 4
“One of the most prominent artists of his generation.” – The Guardian (UK) on Douglas Gordon “Grimaud doesn’t sound like most pianists: she is a rubato artist, a reinventor of phrasings, a taker of chances.” – The New Yorker Turner Prize-winning artist Douglas Gordon takes the elemental force of water as inspiration for a large-scale visual art installation in which acclaimed pianist Hélène Grimaud will perform a program of water-themed works by Debussy, Ravel, Liszt, and others, creating a confluence of live music and visual art that allows audiences to experience this celebrated music in a refreshingly new way. The installation will be open to the public in addition to performance times for further reflection. Commissioned by Park Avenue Armory.
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OTHER HAPPENINGS AT THE ARMORY UNDER CONSTRUCTION SERIES
FAMILY PROGRAMS
“The moment I learned I’d been granted an Armory residency, I felt like Little Orphan Annie when she first arrives at Daddy Warbucks’s mansion.” – Former Artist-in-Residence Young Jean Lee Get an inside look into the creative process of the Armory’s artists-in-residence, who set up studios and offer intimate public previews of works-in-progress, including dance, theater, music, and visual art. The Armory’s period rooms provide a unique backdrop for their workshops, serving as both inspiration and as a collaborator in the development of their work. Previous artists-in-residence have included director and designer Julian Crouch, choreographer Faye Driscoll, soprano Lauren Flanigan, artist Ralph Lemon, maverick musician and composer Meredith Monk, post-classical string quartet ETHEL, playwright and director Young Jean Lee, performance artist Okwui Okpokwasili, Shen Wei Dance Arts, and singer/songwriter Somi.
ARMORY AFTER HOURS
Salon culture has enlivened art since the 19th century, when friends gathered in elegant chambers to hear intimate performances and share artistic insights. Join us following performances for libations with fellow attendees as we revive this tradition in our historic period rooms. You may also get to talk with the evening’s artists, who often greet friends and audience members following their performances.
Park Avenue Armory invites parents and children to participate in interactive art-making workshops in our historic period rooms. Drawing upon the Armory’s castle-like setting and unique programmatic offerings, these programs are offered monthly during the school year and designed to spark the imagination of children of all ages.
ARTIST TALKS
Held in our historic period rooms, these insightful dialogues give audiences the opportunity to hear directly from the artists, and explore the inspirations, ideas, and themes behind their work.
MALKIN LECTURE SERIES
Each fall, the popular Malkin Lecture Series presents scholars and experts on topics relating to the Armory and the civic, cultural, and aesthetic life of New York City in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Lecture topics have ranged from history makers like Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt to Gilded Age society’s favorite restaurants and the Hudson River painters.
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JOIN THE ARMORY MEMBERSHIP Become a member of Park Avenue Armory and support the presentation of epic, unconventional arts and educational programming in the Armory’s landmarked building. Members have access to the best seats for Armory productions during exclusive presales, and are invited to experience the Armory and its artists through preview parties, open rehearsals, members-only viewing hours, building tours, and open houses. friend $100 »» Exclusive access to the best seats for Armory performances through members-only presale »» Invitations to opening night previews for Armory visual art installations »» Free admission to Armory visual art installations »» Discounts on Artist Talks »» Invitations to select open rehearsals »» Special members-only viewing hours for select exhibitions »» Invitation to the annual Members event »» 10% discount on merchandise sold during Armory productions »» Discount on tickets to the Malkin Lecture Series »» Free admission for guided tours of the Armory family circle $225 All benefits of the Friend membership plus: »» Pre-registration for educational workshops »» Special access to talks, programs, and tours Benefits extend to children in household under 18 years of age. supporter $250 All benefits of the Family Circle membership plus: »» Up to two ticket exchanges per season* »» One complimentary pass to an art fair**
associate $500 All benefits of the Supporter membership plus: »» Free admission for two additional guests to Armory visual art installations »» Access to VIP lounge in one of the Armory’s historic rooms during performance intermissions »» Recognition in Armory printed programs »» One additional complimentary pass to an art fair** benefactor $1,000 All benefits of the Associate membership plus: »» Members concierge ticket service »» Two complimentary tickets to the Under Construction Series armory avant-garde $350 or $600 This exciting group invites forward-thinking individuals in their 20s through early 40s to experience new, surprising, and innovative ideas in art, and provides access to the Armory and its artists through exclusive events designed for younger supporters. chairman’s circle starting at $2,500 Members of this exclusive group are provided unique and intimate opportunities to experience the Armory, including invitations to private tours and VIP receptions with worldclass artists; priority seating and concierge ticket service; and an invitation for two to the annual Chairman’s Circle Reception. education committee starting at $5,000 The Armory’s arts education program reaches thousands of public school students each year, immersing them in the creative process of exceptional visual and performing artists and teaching them to explore their own creative instincts.
Education Committee members are invited to special events, meetings, and workshops that allow them to witness the students’ progress and contribute to the growth of the program.
for more information on membership, go to armoryonpark.org/join, email members@armoryonpark.org, or call (212) 616-3958.
*For same production; subject to availability. **Certain restrictions apply. All memberships are subject to various levels of tax deductibility.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Co-Chairman Elihu Rose, PhD. Co-Chairman Adam R. Flatto President and Executive Producer Rebecca Robertson
Marina Abramović William A. Ackman Harrison M. Bains Kent L. Barwick Wendy Belzberg Carolyn Brody Cora Cahan Hélène Comfort Sanford B. Ehrenkranz Michael Field David Fox Marjorie L. Hart Karl Katz Edward G. Klein Ken Kuchin Stephen Lash Pablo Legorreta
Ralph Lemon Burt Manning Heidi McWilliams David S. Moross Gwendolyn Adams Norton Joel I. Picket Joel Press Genie H. Rice Janet C. Ross Jeffrey Silverman Emanuel Stern Angela E. Thompson Donald J. Toumey Deborah C. van Eck Founding Chairman, 2000-2009 Wade F.B. Thompson
SUPPORTERS Park Avenue Armory expresses its deep appreciation to the individuals and organizations listed here for their generous support for its annual and capital campaigns. $1,000,000 + Charina Endowment Fund, Inc. Empire State Local Development Corporation New York City Council and Council Member Daniel R. Garodnick New York City Department of Cultural Affairs The Pershing Square Foundation Susan and Elihu Rose The Arthur Ross Foundation and J & AR Foundation Joan and Joel Smilow The Thompson Family Foundation Wade F.B. Thompson* The Zelnick/Belzberg Charitable Trust Anonymous
$500,000 to $999,999 Citi Almudena and Pablo Legorreta Mr. and Mrs. Peter L. Malkin and The Malkin Fund, Inc. Adam R. Rose and Peter R. McQuillan Donna and Marvin Schwartz Liz and Emanuel Stern
$250,000 to $499,999 Michael Field and Jeff Arnstein The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation The Rockefeller Foundation Marshall Rose Family Foundation
$100,000 to $249,999 The Achelis and Bodman Foundations
Linda and Earle S. Altman American Express Historic Preservation Fund Bloomberg Philanthropies Booth Ferris Foundation Paul Chan and Don Toumey Olivia and Adam Flatto Marjorie and Gurnee Hart Ken Kuchin and Tyler Morgan Henry Luce Foundation Lynne and Burt Manning Mr. and Mrs. Thomas McWilliams Mr. and Mrs. Lester S. Morse, Jr. New York State Assembly New York State Council on the Arts William D. Rondina and Giovanni LoFaro Daniel and Joanna S. Rose Amy and Jeffrey Silverman Stavros Niarchos Foundation Mr. and Mrs. William C. Tomson
$25,000 to $99,999 The Avenue Association Harrison and Leslie Bains Carolyn S. Brody C-III Capital Partners LLC Hélène and Stuyvesant Comfort The Cowles Charitable Trust Crum & Forster Lisa and Sandy Ehrenkranz Sandi and Andrew Farkas / Island Capital Group Florence Fearrington Ella M. Foshay and Michael B. Rothfeld Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Gundlach Marc Haas Foundation Lieta and Helene Cindy and David Moross
National Endowment for the Arts Lizabeth and Frank Newman Gwen and Peter Norton Joan and Joel I. Picket Slobodan Randjelovic and Jon Stryker Rhodebeck Charitable Trust Genie and Donald Rice Rebecca Robertson and Byron Knief Mrs. Frederick P. Rose Janet C. Ross Fiona and Eric Rudin Caryn Schacht and David Fox Sarah and Howard Solomon Nanna and Daniel Stern The Pinkerton Foundation Deborah Van Eck
$10,000 to $24,999 Lindsey Adelman Emma Bloomberg and Chris Frissora British Council Brown Harris Stevens Eileen Campbell and Struan Robertson Pamela and J. Michael Cline Mrs. Daniel Cowin Mary Sharp Cronson; Paul Cronson; Caroline Cronson Emme and Jonathan Deland William F. Draper Peggy and Millard Drexler The Felicia Fund Florian Papp Gallery Lorraine Gallard and Richard H. Levy John and Kiendl Gordon Susan and Peter Gottsegen Agnes Gund Marlene Hess and James D. Zirin
Josefin and Paul Hilal Coco and Arie L. Kopelman Suzie and Bruce Kovner Stephen S. Lash and Wendy Lehman Lash Leon Levy Foundation Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Inc. Lili Lynton and Michael Ryan Christina and Alan MacDonald Nancy A. Marks Larry and Mary McCaffrey Northern Bay Contractors, GDO Contracting Corp & Phoenix Contracting Susan Patterson and Leigh Seippel Phoenix Interior Contracting Co., Inc. Platt Byard Dovell White Architects LLP Andrea Markezin Press and Joel Press The Reed Foundation Mary Jane Robertson and James A. Clark May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation, Inc. The Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation William H. and Patricia Sandholm Stacy Schiff and Marc de la Bruyere Dr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Sculco The Shubert Foundation Juliet Lea Hillman Simonds Foundation Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Sanford Smith and Jill Bokor Tishman Construction, an AECOM Company Tishman Speyer Properties, LP Universal Builders Supply, Inc. (UBS) / Kevin O’Callaghan - President Isak and Rose Weinman Foundation, Inc. World of Deco Mr. and Mrs. William Zeckendorf Anonymous (3)
$5,000 to $9,999 Akustiks, LLC Jody and John Arnhold Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation Veronica Bulgari and Stephan Haimo Paula Cooper Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Davis Decorating with Fabric, Inc. Antoinette Delruelle and Joshua L. Steiner Jacqueline Marie Didier Mary Ellen Dundon David and Frances Eberhart Foundation Andra and John Ehrenkranz Alice and David Elgart Inger McCabe Elliott EverGreene Edmée and Nicholas Firth Joshua Dachs / Fisher Dachs Associates Theatre Planning and Design Bart Friedman and Wendy A. Stein Barbara and Peter Georgescu Mr. and Mrs. George J. Gillespie, III Gail Golden and Carl Icahn Great Performances Ambassador and Mrs. John L. Loeb Jr. Harold And Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust Molly Butler Hart and Michael D. Griffin Liliane and Christian Haub Elizabeth and Dale Hemmerdinger Beth Jacobs Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jarecki Barbara and Donald Jonas Nancy Josephson Jennie Kassanoff and Dan Schulman Mr. and Mrs. Dan Keegan Christian K. Keesee Kirkland & Ellis LLP Mary Kush The Ronald and Jo Carole Lauder Foundation
Gail and Alan Levenstein Levien & Company, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Chris Liddell Aaron Lieber / Bruce Horten Kamie Lightburn John Lippert and Dawn D’Aluisio Shelly and Tony Malkin Mr. and Mrs. Adam Max Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Mayberry, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. J. K. Menoudakos Deborah Miller Zabel and William D. Zabel Antonia and Spiro Milonas Whitney and Andrew Mogavero Sue and Alan Morris The Donald R. Mullen Family Foundation, Inc. National Philanthropic Trust Patty Newburger and Bradley Wechsler Georgiana and Eric Noll Oberdier Ressmeyer LLP David Orentreich, MD / Orentreich Family Foundation Beverly and Peter Orthwein Mr. and Mrs. Mark Ostroff Katharina Otto-Bernstein and Nathan Bernstein Mr. and Mrs. Simon Palley Anne and Skip Pratt Preserve New York, a grant program of Preservation League of New York Mr. and Mrs. David Redden David J. Remnick and Esther B. Fein Judith and Burton Resnick Isabel Rose and Jeffrey Fagen Jonathan F.P. and Diana Rose Charles and Deborah Royce Merle Rubine and Elliot M. Glass Kathe A. Sackler Nicholas and Shelley Schorsch JLH Simonds Margaret Smith Patricia Brown Specter Michael and Joan Steinberg Miriam and Howard N. Stern Mr. and Mrs. Barry Sternlicht Michael and Veronica Stubbs Mr. and Mrs. Paul Tanico Sharzad and Michael Targoff Merryl H. and James S. Tisch Universal Services Group, Ltd. Amanda and John Waldron Susan and Kevin Walsh Marcia Whitaker Anonymous (2)
$2,500 to $4,999 ABSOLUT Affinia Gardens & The Surrey Olga Aidinian Cetie Nippert Ames Cristi Andrews Cohen Helen and Robert Appel Abigail Baratta Judy and Howard Berkowitz Sara and David Berman Stephanie Bernheim Noreen and Kenneth Buckfire Melva Bucksbaum and Raymond Learsy Sandra Buergi and Carol Flaton Marian and Russell Burke Mr. and Mrs. Carlton Cabot Ellen Sue Cantrowitz Carroll M. Carpenter Shirin and Kasper Christoffersen Mr. and Mrs. Alan Cohn Elizabeth Coleman Bonnie Comley and Stewart Lane
Margaret Crotty and Rory Riggs Ellie and Edgar Cullman Boykin Curry and Celerie Kemble Barbara and Ray Dalio Joan K. Davidson / The J.M. Kaplan Fund Gina and James de Givenchy Richard and Barbara Debs Jane and Michael DeFlorio Jennie L. and Richard K. DeScherer Beth Rudin DeWoody Hester Diamond The East Pole Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Leland and Jane Englebardt Mr. & Mrs. Robin S. Esterson Lori B. Finkel and Andrew B. Cogan Michael Finkelstein Fisher Marantz Stone Foreground Conservation and Decorative Arts Susan Freedman and Richard J. Jacobs Amandine and Stephen Freidheim Ashley Garrett and Alan K. Jones Mr. and Mrs. John Gellert Sallie Giordano Mindy and Jon Gray Jeff and Kim Greenberg Mr. and Mrs. Peter Gregory Robert S. Grimes Anne and Richard Grissinger Allen and Deborah Grubman Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Guest Amy Guttman Mike and Janet Halvorson Jane Hartley and Ralph Schlosstein Nancy Hutson and Ian Williams Carola Jain Carol-Jeanette Jorgensen Nina and Bill Judson Hon. Bruce M. Kaplan and Janet Yaseen Kaplan Karl and Elizabeth Katz Florence and Robert Kaufman Wendy Keys and Donald Pels Mr. and Mrs. William Kistler Knickerbocker Greys Phyllis L. Kossoff Alexandra Kozlowski Rok Kvaternik Fernand Lamesch Heather Lubov Gina Giumarra MacArthur Benjamin and Hillary Macklowe Pat and Michael Magdol Vincent and Anne Mai Mary Ellen and Richard Oldenburg Melissa Meeschaert Joyce F. Menschel Alexandra and Les Meyers Malu and Sergio Millerman Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Mnuchin Achim and Colette Moeller Nina and Frank Moore Lauren and Don Morel Barbara and Howard Morse Mary Kathryn Navab Nancy Newcomb and John Hargraves Anne and Chuck Niemeth Francesca and Dick Nye Nancy and Morris W. Offit Kathleen O’Grady Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pruzan Eileen and Tom Pulling R. Mark Adams, William Ritt, Joan Sussman Slobodan Randjelovic Carolyn Risoli and Joseph Silvestri Hal and Linda Ritch Liz Rosen
Stacy and Chuck Rosenzweig Susan and Jon Rotenstreich Carmina and Ralf Roth Terez Rowley Bonnie J. Sacerdote Nathan E. Saint-Amand MD Lisa and Gregg Schenker Roberta Schneiderman Sara Lee and Axel Schupf Mr. Barry Schwartz / M&F Worldwide Corp. Lise Scott and D. Ronald Daniel Alan and Sandy Siegel Mr. and Mrs. David Simon Barbara Slifka Stephanie and Dick Solar Sonnier & Castle Food Melissa Schiff Soros and Robert Soros Daisy Soros and Paul Soros* Squadron A Foundation Stanley Stairs David Steinhardt Mr. and Mrs. Sam Stewart Angeline Straka Mr. and Mrs. Melville Straus Elizabeth F. Stribling and Guy Robinson The Georgetown Company Rabbi Malcolm Thomson Barbara and Donald Tober Tony’s Di Napoli Michael Tuch Foundation Ambassador and Mrs. William J. vanden Heuvel R.T. Vanderbilt Trust / Mr. and Mrs. Hugh B. Vanderbilt, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. William Von Mueffling Anastasia Vournas and J. William Uhrig David Wassong Karla Wheeler Mary H. White, MD Kate R. Whitney and Franklin A. Thomas Mr, and Mrs. Malcolm H. Wiener Valda Witt and Jay Hatfield Daniel Clay Houghton Shannon Wu Amy Yenkin and Robert Usdan Judy Francis Zankel
$1,000 to $2,499 Carrie and Leigh Abramson Eleanor M. Alger Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Allan Soros Amsterdam Hospitality Apothic Wines Ark Restaurants Corp. Allison Aronne Martin Atkin and Reid Balthaser Mr. and Mrs. Steven Atkins Aurora Lampworks, Inc. Inma Barrero Diana Barrett and Robert Vila June and Kent Barwick Peace Hill Press & Susan Wise Bauer Candace and Rick Beinecke Norton Belknap Jayne Bentzen and Benedict Silverman Deborah Berke and Peter McCann Abigail and Andreas Beroutsos Robert D. Bielecki Friederieke and Jeremy Biggs Jill Baker and Jeffrey Bishop Jody Black Allison M. Blinken Bluestem Prairie Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Dixon Boardman Boehm Family Foundation Marianne Boesky Gallery
Paige Boller Malik Oskar and Adrienne Brecher Cynthia Brill Tom and Meredith Brokaw Dr. and Mrs. Stafford Broumand Cary Brown and Steven Epstein George and Jane Bunn Amanda M. Burden Mary Stelzer and Karen Capanelli The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel Carmona Design + Events LLC Beth Carney and Josh Struzziery Alexandre and Lori Chemla Sheri P. Chromow Joan Hardy Clark CleanTech Ranika Cohen Emy Cohenca Melanie Cook and Woody Woods / Ziffren Brittenham LLP L. Jay and Devon Cross Bernadette Cruz Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Foundation Inc. George Cumbler Myrna and John Daniels Mr. and Mrs. Munir Dauhajre Suzanne Dawson Scott Delman Frederick Eberstadt Cheryl Cohen Effron and Blair W. Effron Loren Eng and Dinakar Singh Katherine Ernest Robert Fakeley Felice Wine Bar and Restaurant Femenella & Associates, Inc. Victoria Ferenbach Fig & Olive Uptown Molly O’Neil Frank Teri Friedman and Babak Yaghmaie Shana Gary Olga Geroulanos-Votis and George Votis Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Jay Goldin Mr. and Mrs. Keith Gollust Julia Gordon Marjorie and Ellery Gordon Margery Gottesman Gunther Greiner Barbara Grodd and The Ostgrodd Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Martin Gruss Harvey and Kathleen Guion Addie J. Guttag Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hamilton Kitty Hawks and Larry Lederman William T. Hillman Carola Hinojosa Barbara Hoffman Susanna Hong Severa Hurlock JoJo Restaurant The Kandell Fund / Donald J. Gordon Drs. Sylvia and Byram Karasu Kate Karet Gene Kaufman Mr. and Mrs. George Kaufman Margot Kenly and Bill Cumming Younghee Kim-Wait and Jarett Wait Jana and Gerold Klauer Major General Edward G. Klein, NYNG (Ret.) Kathleen and Reha Kocatas Mr. and Mrs. David Koch Eileen O’Kane Kornreich Kate Krauss Mary Helen Krueger Michael Krusell Justin Kush Karen W. Landau and Rodney W. Nichols
Loeber and Barbara Landau Xia and Richard Leder The Lehoczky Escobar Family Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Lehrman Sahra T. Lese Ken Levien and Levien & Company, Inc. Ellen Liman / The Liman Foundation Joseph Lomangino Donna and Wayne Lowery Andrew J. Malik Oskar and Adriene Brecher Manhattan Parking Group James C. Marlas and Marie Nugent-Head Match 65 Brasserie Chris Mattsson and John McHale Stephanie and Carter McClelland Sarah McGee John McGinn Taylor McKenzie-Jackson Shawn McLaughlin Emily McLellan Constance and H. Roemer McPhee Mr. and Ms. Gregor Medinger Mark Menting and Laura Wilson Sibel Mesta Julie and Jason Miller Claire Milonas Claudia and Douglas Morse Alexis Moses David P. Nolan Foundation Bernadette O’Connell Ellen Oelsner Catherine Alison Orentreich John Overend Alex Papachristidis and Scott Nelson Mr. and Ms. Michael Patterson Judith Stern Peck Michèle and Steve Pesner Sally Peterson and Michael Carlisle Mr. and Mrs. Brian Pfeifler Anthony Podesta Pook Diemont & Ohl, Inc. Samuel F. Pryor, IV Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Quinlan Anna Rabinowitz Daphne Recanati Kaplan and Thomas S. Kaplan Red Bull North America, Inc. Thomas J.F. Regan III Diana Revson Brad Roaman Fadwa Robb Allison Rockefeller Rodgers & Hammerstein Foundation Mr. and Mrs. David Rogath Mr. and Mrs. Howard Rogatnick Jim Rosenfield and Charlotte Rosenblatt Dr. and Mrs. Richard Rubens Valerie Rubsamen and Cedomir Crnkovic Nina Runsdorf and Omer Tuncata Katie Ryser Mrs. Arthur M. Sackler Deborah Sale and Ted Striggles Mr. and Mrs. David Saltzman Ann and Mel Schaffer David Schlapbach Sabina and Wilfred Schlumberger Caroline Schmidt-Barnett Libby Schnee Isabel Sen and Emily Sen, Julia Gordon Tatiana Serafin Virginia Wattiker Sheerin Mr. and Mrs. Michael Shuman Denise Simon and Paulo Vieiradacunha Nancy Sipp Nancy Sloan David S Smith
Dawn and John Smith Mr. and Mrs. Michael Solow Yohanna and Robert Sowler Kathryn Steinberg Douglas C. Steiner Mr. and Mrs. George Stephenson John Strasswimmer Dorothy Strelsin Foundation / Enid Nemy Kerstin M.M. Strohlein and Francisco Bachiller Summit Security Services, Inc. Margot Takian Dr. Ira Titunik Mr. and Mrs. Remy Trafelet Helen Tucker, The Gramercy Park Foundation Gil Turchin & Indigo Two E Bar/Lounge at The Pierre, a Taj Hotel, New York Mr. and Mrs. Scott Ulm Arline Vogel Mr. and Mrs. John Vogelstein Mr. and Mrs. Carl von Bernuth Mr. and Mrs. Alexander von Perfall Christine Wachter-Campbell and William I. Campbell Walter B. Melvin Architects, LLC Alice Wang and Peter Spiegelman In Memory of Arthur Warner Paula Weinstein Barbara and David Zalaznick Franny Heller Zorn and Richard L. Zorn Zubatkin Owner Representation, LLC Anonymous (6)
$500 to $999 Louise L. Arias Megan F. Abell Dale Abrams Matthew Ailey Amy Christine Allen Gregory Alsip and Joseph Guevara Eric Altmann American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Annenberg Mr. and Mrs. Chris Apgar Louis Aronne Deborah Aruta Baked By Melissa Peter and Tina Barnet Clay Barr Janet Dewart Bell Molly Bell David Benattar Veronica Ann and Bruce Campbell Bennett Alison & Barry Berke William A. Bermont Elaine S. Bernstein Ana Bilski William Biondolino and Patrick Folan Amelia Black Jonathan W Bonesteel Arabella Bowen and Tyler Cole Mr. and Mrs. Richard Braddock Bronx Brewery Celeste Brown Amy Brown Ciara Burnham Cora Cahan and Bernard Gersten Chris Cahill Chantelle Mowbray Sommer Chatwin Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Chelberg Michaela Clary Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cochran Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Coles Alexander Cooper
Amelia Cottrell and Steven Usdan Danza Did It! Jon and Jenny Crumiller Adam Cunningham Jaime M Cupertino Christina R. Davis Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Deane Mr. and Mrs. Roland DeSilva Renee Domingo Mr. and Ms. Michael Donner Robert and Susan Doran Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Downes Lauren Eckhart Smith Michael Ellis Philipp Engelhorn & Cameron Yates Mrs. John W. Espy Mallory Factor II Patricia & Alexander Farman-Farmaian Mr. and Mrs. Antonio Farnos Joan and William Felder Stacey & Eric Flatt Martha J. Fleischman Barbara G. Fleischman Anne E. Fontaine and Robert E. Buckholz Annabelle Fowlkes Mark Galvan Mr. and Mrs. Trevor Gibbons Nelsa L. Gidney and Jordan Ringel Mr. and Ms. Matthew Giffuni Rosalie Y Goldberg Lynn Goldberg and J Robert Moskin Jane and Budd Goldman Mr. and Mr. James Green Gail Gregg Jennifer Griffin and Christophe Demaison Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Guffey Robert H. Haines Kathleen D. Hale Cassandra Harris Marian S. Heiskell Rolf Heitmeyer Darren Henault Stephanie Hessler Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ho Lily and Joel Hoffman Pamela Hoiles Jean Huber Mr. and Mrs. James Hunt Mr. and Mrs. Mike Jacobellis Elise Jaffe + Jeffrey Brown Joseph Johnson and Karen Diaz Patricia S. Joseph Daniel and Renee Kaplan Richard Kidd Hadley King Beth Kojima Leah Kremer Lagunitas Brewing Co. Paul C. Lambert Andrew Landesman Judith Langer and Arthur Applebee Jan Larsen Steven and Arlene Lazarus Hyun-sook Lee Horim Kate Lee Phyllis Levin Brenda Levin Angelina M-D. Lippert Jane K. Lombard Joyce Lowinson Nancy Mack and Chad Smith Elizabeth MacNeill Lara Marcon Leona Marino Richard J. Massey Chris Mattsson
Nina Mazar Ph.D Mr. and Mrs. Patrick McBrien Erin Harkness McKinnon Richard Meier Eugene Mercy, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. T. Kelley Millet Abby and Howard Milstein Sally Minard and Norton Garfinkle Mr. and Mrs. Arsen Mrakovcic Kathryn Murdoch Joseph Nazitto Catherine and Guy Nordenson John Orberg William Palley Katherine Park Anne Pasternak Dr. Steven Butensky and Di Petroff Butensky Judge and Mrs. Leon Polsky Michael Young and Debra Raskin Mr. and Mrs. Tony Roberts Sheila and Daniel Rosenblum Joel Rosenkranz Marjorie P. Rosenthal Herbert and Ernestine Ruben Fern Hurst and Peter Rubin Rudin Management Co., Inc. Russian Standard Vodka Zachary Schoenhut, The Schoenhut Family Foundation Alessandro Servadei Kimia Setoodeh Daniel S. Shapiro Daniel Shuchman and Lori Lesser Lindy Shuttleworth Lisa Simonsen Mr. and Mrs. Brett Singer Suzanne Slesin and Michael Steinberg Salwa Smith Eileen Solomon Mr. and Mrs. River Song Martha S. Sproule Janice Stanton Jean and Eugene Stark Christian Steiner and Frank Heller Mr. and Mrs. Alan Stillman Alexis Strongin Allison & Stephen Sullens Aleksandra Szczepanowska and Gordon Shearer Brian Keith Tanz DDS Jennie Tarr Coyne Tracy Thorne Jennifer Tipton Lee Traub Mr. and Mrs. John Troiano Ms. Patricia L. Truscelli and Mr. E.N. Ellis Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Turgeon Julia von Eichel and Alex Vlack Mr. and Mrs. Max von Zuben V. Vorres Fine Art Gallery, LLC Justine Walsh Ric Wanetik and David Hagans Ryan Wangner Mr. and Mrs. Saul Waring Mr. and Ms. Anthony Weldon Vincent and Sally Wilt Gisela Winkelhofer Ashley Wotiz Ken Wyse Yulia Yudelevich Katharine Zarrella Anonymous (3) List as of February 25, 2014 *Deceased
ABOUT THE BOARD OF OFFICERS ROOM “The restoration of the Park Avenue Armory seems destined to set a new standard, not so much for its scale, but for its level of respect and imagination.” – The New York Times The Board of Officers Room is one of the most important historic rooms in America and one of the few remaining interiors by Herter Brothers. After decades of progressive damage and neglect, the room completed a revitalization in 2013 by the architecture team at Herzog & de Meuron and executive architects Platt Byard Dovell White Architects to transform the space into a state-of-the-art salon for intimate performances and other contemporary art programing. The Board of Officers Room is the third period room at the Armory completed (out of 18) and represents the full range of design tools utilized by the team including the removal of accumulated layers on the surfaces, the addition of contemporary lighting to the 1897 chandeliers, new interpretations of the stencil patterns on areas of loss, the addition of metallic finishes on new materials, new programming infrastructure, and custom-designed furniture.
The room’s restoration is part of an ongoing $200-million transformation, which is guided by the understanding that the Armory’s rich history and the patina of time are essential to its character. A defining component of the design process for the period rooms is the close collaboration between architect and artisan. Highly skilled craftspeople working in wood, paint, plaster, and metals were employed in the creation of the building’s original interiors and the expertise—and hand—of similar artisans has been drawn upon for the renovation work throughout.
The renovation of the Board of Officers Room was made possible through the generosity of The Thompson Family Foundation. Cover photo by James Ewing.