MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Year long celebration to commemorate 50 years of NYC Lincoln’s Center

Pte. Dwight D. Eisenhower wields the shovel at the ground breaking ceremony

New York City's Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the largest in the world, officially launched this week a year long celebration of its 50th Anniversary with a commemorative ceremony at Alice Tully Hall.

Hosted by renowned US journalist and author Tom Brokaw, the program paid tribute to the many achievements and contributions of Lincoln Center, from the milestones of its past half century to the transformation of its campus.

Celebrating the past and looking ahead to a new generation, the program included appearances by established and upcoming artists affiliated with Lincoln Center, with remarks by institutional leadership and elected officials.

”Today, we celebrate a half-century of some of the world’s most inspired performances and the magnificent performing arts center that served as their stage,” said Mayor Bloomberg.

“Lincoln Center was created through an innovative public-private partnership, and that same collaborative spirit will guide its current redevelopment project, helping ensure that the next 50 years are just as extraordinary for countless New Yorkers and visitors from around the globe”.

Philanthropist David Rockefeller, whose brother, the late John D. Rockefeller 3rd, spearheaded the campaign to create Lincoln Center, was in the audience, as along with members of the New York Philharmonic who played at the 1959 official groundbreaking event.

In a special performance, members of the New York Philharmonic, conducted by music director designate Alan Gilbert, recreated the Philharmonic’s historic performance of Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man from Lincoln Center’s 1959 groundbreaking with President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Fifty years ago, President Dwight D. Eisenhower wielded his shovel at the official groundbreaking of Lincoln Center, the US first major cultural complex. Since that time, Lincoln Center has become the world’s largest performing arts center. It has become a model for performing arts centers around the world and has contributed to the cultural and economic evolution of the city, the state, and the nation.

The commemorative event begins an exciting year of special events and performances, premieres, commissions, education initiatives, free community events, displays, screenings, lectures and publications heralding Lincoln Center’s 50th Anniversary.

A complete schedule with full details is available at www.LincolnCenter.org/50.