Lincoln Center Changes Course on David Geffen Hall Renovation

According to The New York Times, Lincoln Center and the New York Philharmonic have scrapped a $500 million plan for a complete renovation of David Geffen Hall and will be working on simpler ways to improve the venue.

The original plan to completely re-work the venue has been in the works since 2015 following a $100 million gift to Lincoln Center which also renamed the hall for David Geffen.

The original plan would have moved the NY Philharmonic from their home for two seasons, but following indications that it would take longer than anticipated to complete the renovations, an alternative was sought.

The concert hall, originally designed by Max Abramovitz, was the first building to open on the Lincoln Center campus. First known as Philharmonic Hall, it has been home to storied performances by the New York Philharmonic, as well as other renowned orchestras and soloists, for more than five decades. The symphonic concert hall was renamed in September, 2015 to David Geffen Hall.

Mr. Geffen told The NYT in a statement that "I'm happy. I know they'll do something great."

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The New York Philharmonic plays a leading cultural role in New York City, the United States, and the world. This season's projects will connect the Philharmonic with up to 50 million music lovers through live concerts in New York City and on its worldwide tours and residencies; digital recording series; international broadcasts on television, radio, and online; and as a resource through its wide range of education programs and the New York Philharmonic Leon Levy Digital Archives. Having commissioned and/or premiered works by leading composers from every era, the Orchestra now champions contemporary music through CONTACT! and the NY PHIL BIENNIAL. A resource for its community and the world, the Philharmonic complements its annual, free citywide Concerts in the Parks, Presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer, with Philharmonic Free Fridays and wide-ranging education programs, including the famed Young People's Concerts and the New York Philharmonic Global Academy, collaborations with partners worldwide offering training of pre-professional musicians, often alongside performance residencies. Renowned around the world, having appeared in 432 cities in 63 countries, America's oldest symphony orchestra has long been a media pioneer, releasing almost 2,000 recordings since 1917 and today sharing live performances through downloads and online. Alan Gilbert became Music Director in 2009, succeeding 20th-century musical giants including Bernstein, Toscanini, and Mahler.