(New York, New York, October 5, 2011) - Carnegie Hall opened its 2011-2012 season with a sold out gala benefit concert featuring the Mariinsky Orchestra conducted by Music Director Valery Gergiev in Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage.  The all-Russian program included Shostakovich's Festive Overture, Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, and Tchaikovsky's Variations on a Rococo Theme featuring guest soloist, cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The concert continues Carnegie Hall's 120th anniversary year celebration, launching an October focus on Tchaikovsky the great Russian composer who made his American debut conducting Carnegie Hall's very first opening night in 1891?with events at Carnegie Hall and throughout New York City through partnerships with several other cultural organizations.  The gala, which was attended by more than 600 guests, raised nearly $2.8 million in support of Carnegie Hall's artistic and education programming. 

The Opening Night Gala event was co-chaired by Mercedes and Sid Bass, Yoko Nagae Ceschina, Frederick Iseman, Marie-Josée and Henry Kravis, Katherine Farley and Jerry I. Speyer / Tishman Speyer, Joan and Sanford I. Weill, and Ann Ziff. Honorary chairmen included The Honorable John R. Beyrle, Ambassador of the United States to the Russian Federation, and His Excellency Sergey I. Kislyak, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the United States.  For the eighth consecutive season, PwC is the Opening Night Gala sponsor.  The gala included a pre-concert reception in Carnegie Hall's Rohatyn Room and a gala dinner at The Waldorf=Astoria's Grand Ballroom following the concert.

Following their Opening Night performance, the Mariinsky Orchestra and Maestro Gergiev return for four additional concerts, October 6, 2011, which include a cycle of Tchaikovsky's six symphonies and the composer's Piano Concerto No. 1 with guest soloist Daniil Trifonov, Grand Prize Winner of this summer's XIV International Tchaikovsky Competition. These concerts anchor Tchaikovsky in St. Petersburg,? the extended anniversary focus on the composer, which, in addition to music, explores his influence on the culture and artists of St. Petersburg, Russia, with additional events throughout the city. Partners for Tchaikovsky in St. Petersburg include The Harriman Institute at Columbia University, Musica Sacra at the The Church of St. Paul the Apostle, New York City Ballet, New York Public Library, The School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center, and Sotheby's auction house.

Carnegie Hall also recently released its 120th Anniversary Mobile App, inviting users to visit New York City in the 1890s the time in which Carnegie Hall was born with a Tchaikovsky in NYC walking tour and exclusive audio and video by the Maarinsky Orchestra and Maestro Gergiev.  It's available now for iPhone at the Apple App Store, and will soon be available for all Android-enabled devices.

For more information on Carnegie Hall?s 2011?2012 season, please visit www.carnegiehall.org . 

Tchaikovsky in St. Petersburg is sponsored by PwC.

Bank of America is the Proud Season Sponsor of Carnegie Hall.