Carnegie Hall has announced the sudden cancellation of their Opening Night Gala concert—a black-tie event that was supposed to feature The Philadelphia Orchestra and Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, as well as soloists Joshua Bell and Esperanza Spalding. The performance will not be rescheduled.
Unlike other concert cancellations that Carnegie Hall has had to recently suffer due to external circumstances—the closing of West 57th Street in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, the San Francisco Symphony's musician strike in March, as well as the recent woes of the Minnesota Orchestra—the Gala concert's cancellation stems from a dispute inside the venue.
Carnegie Hall's stagehands, represented by IATSE/Local One (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees), have opted to strike today over issues surrounding the building of Carnegie Hall's new Education Wing, set to open in 2014. The stagehands state that their union-labor jurisdiction should include the new Wing once opened, whereas Carnegie Hall cites that the current collective-bargaining agreement with the IATSE grants stagehands authority over the performance spaces only (standard practice across all New York City conservatories, universities, and concert halls).
Although it doesn't look like this type of disagreement will sort itself out soon, Carnegie is announcing no further cancellations at this time. Additionally, the Opening Night Gala dinner, benefiting Carnegie Hall's artistic and education programs, will still take place at the Waldorf Astoria's Grand Ballroom this evening at 6:00 p.m. rather than 9:00—so at least the Hall's wealthiest donors have an additional three hours of drinking ahead of them.
More information on the dispute, as well as Carnegie's official statement, available at the Carnegie Press Center.
UPDATE: New York City's loss is Philadelphia's gain, as the Philly players announce that tonight's performance will take place FOR FREE at their own Verizon Hall.