Paul Simon performing with Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
The
Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) held
its 2008 Spring Gala on Wednesday, April 9 at BAM. The evening featured
a performance of Under African Skies in the BAM Howard Gilman
Opera House. The evening concluded with a post-performance dinner
with the artists and special guests.
Under African Skies rekindles Paul Simon's passion
for the rhythms of South Africa and Brazil represented in the Grammy
Award-winning, critically acclaimed albums Graceland and The Rhythm
of the Saints. Simon was joined by David Byrne,
world renowned Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista,
South African vocal ensemble Ladysmith Black Mambazo,
Cameroonian vocalist Kaïssa, South African singer Vusi
Mahlasela, and Brazilian songstress Luciana Souza.
The pre-show cocktails and post-show dinner were catered by Great
Performances. The evening's décor, designed by Bella
Meyer and Fleurs Bella, used organic centerpieces
of various heights to build a sweeping landscape that paid homage to
the African continent.
Dan and Abbe Klores and Diane Passage and Ken
Starr served as Gala chairs; Bloomberg, Kevin
Brine and Jessica Smith, Calyon Crédit
Agricole CIB, Charles and Valerie Diker, Frederick
Iseman, Diane and Adam E. Max, Jonathan
F.P. and Diana V.C. Rose, Joseph S. and Diane
H. Steinberg, Time Warner Inc. were Gala vice chairs; Tondra and Jeffrey
Lynford were Producers Council chairs. BAM chairman of the Board Alan
H. Fishman, BAM president Karen Brooks Hopkins, and
BAM executive producer Joseph V. Melillo co-hosted the Gala.
Special guests included Mario Batali, Steve
Buscemi, David Byrne, Brad Grey, Charles
Grodin, Willem Dafoe, Deborah Eisenberg, Paul
Giamatti, Philip Glass, Caroline
Kennedy, Spike Lee, Jonathan Lethem, Lorne
Michaels, Mark Morris, James L. Nederlander, Cynthia
Nixon, Parker Posey, Isabella Rossellini, Susan
Sarandon, David Schwimmer, Wallace
Shawn, Paul Simon, John Turturro,
and Suzanne Vega.
BAM president Karen Brooks Hopkins and Roger Tillis.
BAM Trustees Jeffrey and Tondra Lynford.
Steve Buscemi with Jo Andres.
David Schwimmer with Mario Batali.
Paul Simon with BAM trustees Valerie and Charles Diker.
Susan Sarandon.
Cynthia Nixon.
Megan Williams, Mark Morris.
Lorne Michaels.
Parker Posey.
Deborah Eisenberg with Wallace Shawn.
The evening's décor used organic centerpieces of various heights
to build a sweeping landscape that paid homage to the African continent.
Photos:
Image 1: Jack Vartoogian. Image 2-13: Elena Olivo.
