Café Sabarsky Brings Fin de Siecle Viennese Culture to New York City
NEW YORK CITY The Neue Galerie is housed in a landmark 1914 Louis XIII-style, Beaux-Arts mansion on New York City's Fifth Avenue. One of the most recent additions to "Museum Mile," between 83rd and 104th Streets, the museum was first conceived by two close friends, the late museum administrator and art dealer, Serge Sabarsky, and entrepreneur and philanthropist Ronald S. Lauder. Since opening its doors in the late 1990s, the Neue Galerie has established a reputation for its extraordinary Austrian and German fine and decorative art from the early 20th century. In 2006, Lauder purchased Gustav Klimt's painting, "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I," on behalf of the Neue Galerie; at the time, it was the most expensive painting ever sold. On June 30, 2008, the first museum retrospective of Klimt's work ever held in the United States, Gustav Klimt: The Ronald S. Lauder and Serge Sabarsky Collections, displays eight paintings and more than 120 drawings by the controversial artist, on view together for the first time.
The museum's Café Sabarsky is located on the main floor, and in keeping with the Neue Galerie's European ambiance and focus, the Café's menu and cultural offerings mirror those of the legendary fin de siècle Viennese cafes that were once renowned as artistic and intellectual hubs. The Café offers a unique performance series devoted primarily to German and Austrian music of the 1890s to 1930s, a fertile and volatile musical style with fierce devotees.
A Yamaha S4 grand piano graces one corner of the Café Sabarsky and is an integral part of regular musical evenings featuring cabaret artists and chamber musicians. It is also used for classical music in the Café on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, Friday evenings, and for private events.
"Musical programming has added a wonderful new dimension to Café Sabarsky," says Scott Gutterman, Neue Galerie's deputy director. "Our cabaret evenings and chamber music recitals are bringing in new audiences, who have been thrilled by what they've heard. All the pianists who have played here and we have had many superb ones have enjoyed playing the Yamaha piano. A number of them have commented on its great tonal range, which is important for the sophisticated music we present."
From November 2-17, the Neue Galerie presented "Eight Nights of Berlin Cabaret" at the Café Sabarsky in partnership with Carnegie Hall's first major international festival, "Berlin in Lights." Close to 50 events were presented throughout all five boroughs of New York City, at Carnegie Hall, and at several partner venues. Café Sabarsky performances featured contemporary cabaret chanteuse Ute Lemper (with pianist Vana Gierig), American opera star Patricia Racette (with pianist Paul Trueblood), vocalist Isengart (with pianist Todd Almond), singing sensation Meow Meow, jazz singer Theo Bleckmann (with pianist Rob Schwimmer), bass baritone Robert Osborne (with pianist Richard Gordon) and renowned vocalist, songwriter and producer Cassandra Wilson (with Blue Note recording artist, pianist Jason Moran). The intimate 60-seat venue is exquisitely appointed with period objects and operated by Kurt Gutenbrunner, chef and owner of the renowned restaurant Wallsé. All performances were preceded by a prix-fixe dinner featuring authentic Viennese cuisine.
Later in November and into December, the Café mounted cabaret shows with prix-fixe dinners by actress and Broadway veteran Anne Kerry Ford (with pianist John Boswell) and a return engagement by cabaret sensation Isengart, with Todd Almond on piano once again. A number of classical recitals were offered by gifted young musicians throughout the autumn months, in association with the Perlman Music Program (founded by Itzhak Perlman and his wife, Toby).
For further details on upcoming events, visit www.neuegalerie.org.
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.
 Ute Lemper performs at Café Sabarsky as part of "Berlin in Lights" |
A Yamaha S4 grand piano graces one corner of the Café Sabarsky and is an integral part of regular musical evenings featuring cabaret artists and chamber musicians. It is also used for classical music in the Café on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, Friday evenings, and for private events.
"Musical programming has added a wonderful new dimension to Café Sabarsky," says Scott Gutterman, Neue Galerie's deputy director. "Our cabaret evenings and chamber music recitals are bringing in new audiences, who have been thrilled by what they've heard. All the pianists who have played here and we have had many superb ones have enjoyed playing the Yamaha piano. A number of them have commented on its great tonal range, which is important for the sophisticated music we present."
From November 2-17, the Neue Galerie presented "Eight Nights of Berlin Cabaret" at the Café Sabarsky in partnership with Carnegie Hall's first major international festival, "Berlin in Lights." Close to 50 events were presented throughout all five boroughs of New York City, at Carnegie Hall, and at several partner venues. Café Sabarsky performances featured contemporary cabaret chanteuse Ute Lemper (with pianist Vana Gierig), American opera star Patricia Racette (with pianist Paul Trueblood), vocalist Isengart (with pianist Todd Almond), singing sensation Meow Meow, jazz singer Theo Bleckmann (with pianist Rob Schwimmer), bass baritone Robert Osborne (with pianist Richard Gordon) and renowned vocalist, songwriter and producer Cassandra Wilson (with Blue Note recording artist, pianist Jason Moran). The intimate 60-seat venue is exquisitely appointed with period objects and operated by Kurt Gutenbrunner, chef and owner of the renowned restaurant Wallsé. All performances were preceded by a prix-fixe dinner featuring authentic Viennese cuisine.
 Café Sabarsky at Neue Galerie, New York City |
For further details on upcoming events, visit www.neuegalerie.org.
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.