Celebrity News

Stagehand strike scraps opening night at Carnegie Hall

Carnegie Hall canceled its season opening night concert after stagehands went on strike. The Wednesday gala was to include a performance by the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin with violinist Joshua Bell and Grammy-winning musician Esperanza Spalding.

Carnegie chair Sandy Weill sent a letter to attendees explaining that the hall and its stagehands were at an impasse over contract negotiations.

“We’re committed to . . . reaching an equitable agreement as quickly as possible, as we continue to transform our building to better meet our expanding public service mission,” Weill wrote.

Although the music was canceled, the dinner portion of the event went on at the Waldorf-Astoria. Concert ticketholders will be refunded.

Annette and Oscar de la Renta chaired the event along with co-chairs Mercedes Bass, Diane von Furstenberg and Barry Diller, Marie-Josée and Henry Kravis, and Beatrice Santo Domingo. The event was said to raise more than $3 million.