Welcome Back to The Shed
It’s my great pleasure to welcome you back to The Shed tonight, more than a year after we closed our doors to help fight the spread of Covid-19. We’ve all missed live performance, and we’re honored to have you here to share it with us once again.
Collectively, the pandemic has cost us innumerable losses, and affected many in unequal ways. An Audience with… offers the opportunity to restore a few of those losses, contributing to a reawakening of our city and bringing us together again in a communal space of creativity. You’ve supported us through our past year of digital programming with November and our Up Close series and our exhibition Howardena Pindell: Rope/Fire/Water—we appreciate you so much for that—but nothing can replace the collective experience of witnessing live performance, together.
Since last June, I’ve worked as part of New York State’s flexible spaces task force, in partnership with a wonderful group of cultural leaders from other nonprofit organizations, to assemble the robust guidelines that have allowed our spaces to reopen safely. This group has modeled an inspiring, collaborative way of working in mutual support of our sector, and I sincerely thank the state, the city, NY PopsUp, and my task force members Rebecca Robertson, Sade Lythcott, Pat Cruz, Susan Feldman, and Kristina Newman-Scott, as well as Jane Rosenthal, Emily Eakin, and Ken Sunshine.
Live performance comes to life in the presence of others. Admiration, respect, and thanks to our artists performing in this series: Kesley Lu and their ensemble and management; the New York Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Deborah Borda, and Isaac Thompson; Renée Fleming, Bill Frisell, Christian McBride, and Dan Tepfer, as well as Paul Batsel; Michelle Wolf, Jared Freid, and Cipha Sounds; and Zainab Johnson and Atheer Yacoub.
My admiration and gratitude goes to The Shed’s talented and dedicated staff, our stellar Board of Directors, and our wonderful Shed members who continue to support and sustain us.
Thank you to our partners at Live Nation, and to our partners at M&T Bank, Desiree and Olivier Berggruen, the Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch Commissioning Fund, the Shed Commissioners, and the Charina Endowment Fund for making An Audience with… possible.
Finally, my gratitude goes to you—artists and audiences alike—for joining us tonight in these acts of creativity, offering us the chance to experience that most precious thing, live performance.
—Alex Poots, Artistic Director and CEO
Tonight’s program
This evening’s program will include selections from:
“Perfectly Still This Solstice Morning”
from Winter Morning Walks
by Maria Schneider (b. 1960), poem by Ted Kooser (b. 1939)
“O Sleep, why dost thou leave me?”
from Semele
George Frideric Händel (1685-1759), text by William Congreve (1670 – 1729)
“Bel piacere e godere”
from Agrippina
George Frideric Händel (1685 – 1759), text by Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani (1652 – 1710)
“All the Things You Are”
from Very Warm for May
Jerome Kern (1885 – 1945), lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II (1895 – 1960)
“When Did You Leave Heaven?”
Richard A. Whiting (1891 – 1938), lyrics by Walter Bullock (1907 – 53)
“Both Sides Now”
Music and lyrics by Joni Mitchell (b. 1943)
“Land of Make Believe”
Music and lyrics by Chuck Mangione (b. 1940)
“Who Knows Where the Time Goes?”
Music and lyrics by Sandy Denny (1947 – 78)
“Barcarolle” from Les Contes d’Hoffmann
Jacques Offenbach (1819 – 80), libretto by Jules Barbier (1825 – 1901)
“Down in the Depths (On the Ninetieth Floor)” from Red, Hot and Blue
Music and lyrics by Cole Porter (1891 – 1964)
“Touch the Hand of Love”
Blossom Dearie (1924 – 2009), lyrics by Mahriah Blackwolf
“Hard Times Come Again No More”
Music and lyrics by Stephen Foster (1826 – 64)
Texts
from Winter Morning Walks
by Maria Schneider (b. 1960), poem by Ted Kooser (b. 1939)
Perfectly still this solstice morning,
in bone-cracking cold. Nothing moving,
or so one might think, but as I walk the road,
the wind held in the heart of every tree
flows to the end of each twig and forms a bud.
from Semele
George Frideric Händel (1685-1759), text by William Congreve (1670 – 1729)
O Sleep, why dost thou leave me?
Why thy visionary joys remove?
O Sleep, again deceive me,
To my arms restore my wand'ring love.
from Agrippina
George Frideric Händel (1685 – 1759), text by Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani (1652 – 1710)
Bel piacere è godere fido amor!
questo fà contento il cor.
Di bellezza non s'apprezza lo splendor;
Se non vien d'un fido cor.
Bel piacere.
It is such delight to enjoy true love!
It brings the heart happiness.
The splendor of beauty is of no value
if it comes not from a faithful heart.
It is such delight to enjoy true love, etc.
from Very Warm for May
Jerome Kern (1885 – 1945), lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II (1895 – 1960)
Time and again I’ve longed for adventure,
Something to make my heart beat the faster.
What did I long for? I never really knew.
Finding your love I’ve found my adventure,
Touching your hand, my heart beats the faster.
All that I want in all of this world is you
You are the promised kiss of springtime
That makes the lonely winter seem long.
You are the breathless hush of evening
That trembles on the brink of a lovely song.
You are the angel glow that lights a star.
The dearest things I know are what you are.
Some day my happy arms will hold you,
And some day I’ll know that moment divine
When all the things you are, are mine.
Richard A. Whiting (1891 – 1938), lyrics by Walter Bullock (1907 – 53)
When did you leave heaven?
How could they let you go?
How’s everything in heaven?
I’d like to know.
Why did you trade heaven
for all these earthly things?
Where did you hide your halo?
Where did you lose your wings?
Have they missed you?
Can you get back in?
If I kissed you, would it be a sin?
I am only human but you are so divine.
When did you leave heaven, angel mine?
When did you leave heaven, angel mine?
Music and lyrics by Joni Mitchell (b. 1943)
Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I’ve looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way
I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It’s cloud illusions I recall
I really don’t know clouds at all
Moons and Junes and ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I’ve looked at love that way
But now it’s just another show
You leave ‘em laughing when you go
And if you care, don’t let them know
Don’t give yourself away
I’ve looked at love from both sides now
From give and take and still somehow
It’s love’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know love at all
Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say “I love you” right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I’ve looked at life that way
But now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, they say I’ve changed
Well something’s lost, but something’s gained
In living every day
I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all
I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life, I really don’t know life at all…
Music and lyrics by Chuck Mangione (b. 1940)
When you’re feeling down and out,
Wondering what this world’s about,
I know a place that has the answer.
It’s a place where no one dies.
It’s a land where no one cries.
And good vibrations always greet you.
People dancing,
Their hearts are filled
With all the reasons why.
You and I should learn the way
to the land of make believe
And make this world of ours much brighter.
Hear the music of the band
It was written in our land
For what’s in a song but someone’s dream?
In our world there was a king
He once said “I have a dream”
Now there’s a man who knew the secret.
Dreams are really
The thoughts that you have hidden in your heart
When you start a brand-new day
Let your heart show you the way,
And make a dream or two come true.
How I love when my thoughts run
To the land of make believe.
Let’s make this world of ours much brighter.
Music and lyrics by Sandy Denny (1947 – 78)
Across the purple sky, all the birds are leaving
But how can they know it’s time for them to go?
Before the winter fire, I will still be dreaming
I have no thought of time.
For who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?
Sad, deserted shore, your fickle friends are leaving.
Ah, but then you know it’s time for them to go.
But I will still be here, I have no thought of leaving
I do not count the time.
For who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?
And I am not alone while my love is near me,
And I know it will be so until it’s time to go.
So come the storms of winter and then the birds in spring again
I do not fear the time.
For who knows how my love grows?
And who knows where the time goes?
from Les Contes d’Hoffmann
Jacques Offenbach (1819 – 80), libretto by Jules Barbier (1825 – 1901)
Belle nuit, ô nuit d’amour
Souris à nos ivresses
Nuit plus douce que le jour
Ô belle nuit d’amour!
Le temps fuit et sans retour
Emporte nos tendresses
Loin de cet heureux séjour
Le temps fuit sans retour!
Zéphyrs embrasés
Versez-nous vos caresses
Zéphyrs embrasés
Donnez-nous vos baisers!
Vos baisers! Vos baisers! Ah!
Lovely night, oh, night of love
Smile upon our joys!
Night much sweeter than the day
Oh beautiful night of love!
Time flies by, and carries away
Our tender caresses for ever!
Time flies far from this happy oasis
And does not return!
Burning zephyrs
Embrace us with your caresses!
Burning zephyrs
Give us your kisses!
Your kisses! Your kisses! Ah!
from Red, Hot and Blue
Music and lyrics by Cole Porter (1891 – 1964)
Manhattan, I’m up a tree
The one I’ve most adored
Is bored with me.
Manhattan, I’m awfully nice,
Nice people dine with me,
And even twice.
Yet the only one in the world I’m mad about
Talks of somebody else
And walks out.
With a million neon rainbows burning below me
And a million blazing taxis raising a roar,
Here I sit, above the town
In my pet pailletted gown
Down in the depths on the ninetieth floor.
While the crowds in all the nightclubs punish the parquet
And the bars are packed with couples calling for more,
I’m deserted and depressed
In my regal eagle nest
Down in the depths on the ninetieth floor.
When the only one you wanted wants another
What’s the use of swank and cash in the bank galore?
Why, even the janitor’s wife
Has a perfectly good love life,
And here am I facing tomorrow
Alone with my sorrow,
Down in the depths on the ninetieth floor.
Blossom Dearie (1924 – 2009), lyrics by Mahriah Blackwolf
Touch the hand of love.
Let it calm your troubled mind
And caress your tender sorrow.
Know the hand of love
As you walk that weary road,
As you travel your tomorrows
Alone.
You may have to wander far
Over thorns that bleed and scar you,
And those rocky mountains you must climb
Will try to blind you.
Touch the hand of love
As you walk that weary road.
Let it hold your tender sorrow
As you travel your tomorrows
Alone.
Performing Tonight
Renée Fleming is one of the most highly acclaimed singers of our time, performing in the world’s greatest opera houses and concert halls, and honored with four Grammy Awards and the US National Medal of Arts. In 2014, she became the first classical artist ever to sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl. On January 20, Fleming sang in the private church service attended by President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris prior to the inauguration.
In 2019, Fleming appeared opposite Ben Whishaw in Norma Jeane Baker of Troy in the opening of The Shed. She earned a Tony nomination for the 2018 Broadway production of Carousel. She has recorded everything from complete operas to jazz, indie rock, and the soundtracks of Best Picture Oscar–winners The Shape of Water and The Lord of the Rings. A leading advocate for research at the intersection of arts, health, and neuroscience, she has given presentations with scientists around the world on this subject.
Program & Production Credits
Madani Younis, Chief Executive Producer
Laura Aswad, Producer
Marc Warren, Director of Production
Daisy Peele, Associate Producer
Annabel Thompson, Associate Producer
Pope Jackson, Production Manager
Sarah Pier, Production Manager
John Torres, Lighting Designer
Stuart Burgess, Head Electrician – McCourt
Stefan Carrillo, Head Carpenter – McCourt
Jim van Bergen, Head Audio – McCourt
Board of Directors & Supporters
Debbie August
Heather Baker
Peter A. Boyce II
Misty Copeland
Roberta Denning
Daniel L. Doctoroff, Chair
David C. Drummond
Lew Frankfort
Dexter G. Goei
Gary Hoberman
Monish Kumar
Kate D. Levin
Christina Weiss Lurie
Frank H. McCourt Jr.
Marigay McKee
Darla Moore
Colby Mugrabi
Alex Poots, Artistic Director and CEO
Claudia Rankine
Maria Catalina Saieh Guzman
Andres Santo Domingo
Dean Shapiro
Harvey J. Spevak
Jonathan M. Tisch, Vice Chair
Jed Walentas
Fred Wilson
Deborah Winshel
Kenneth P. Wong
Dasha Zhukova
Ex Officio
Hon. Vicki Been, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development
Hon. Gale A. Brewer, Manhattan Borough President
Hon. Gonzalo Casals, Commissioner, Department of Cultural Affairs
Hon. Corey Johnson, Speaker, New York City Council
City of New York
Office of the Mayor
NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
NYC Department of Design and Construction
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Altice
BlackRock
Coach Foundation
The Diller – von Furstenberg Family Foundation
Alisa and Dan Doctoroff
Google
Kenneth C. Griffin
The McCourt Family
Darla Moore
Oxford Properties
The Pershing Square Foundation
Related Companies
Stephen M. Ross
Santo Domingo Family
Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch
WarnerMedia
Dasha Zhukova
As of March 23, 2021
Debbie and Glenn August
Heather and Felix Baker
Boston Consulting Group
Charina Endowment Fund
Roberta and Steven Denning
Bobbie and Lew Frankfort
The Mimi and Peter Haas Fund
Gary and Alexandra Hoberman and Family
The Kapnick Foundation
Christina Weiss Lurie
M&T Bank
Marigay McKee and Bill Ford
Neubauer Family Foundation
Nike
The Saieh Foundation
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Harvey J. Spevak
TD Bank
United Airlines
VaynerMedia
The Walentas Family
Wasserman Foundation
Wells Fargo
Joanne and Fred Wilson/Gotham Gives
As of March 23, 2021
Allen & Company LLC
Bruce A. Beal, Jr.
Jeff and Lisa Blau
Sherry Brous and Doug Oliver
R. Martin Chavez
David C. Drummond
Eva and Glenn Dubin
Larry and Lori Fink
Julis Romo Rabinowitz Family
Kirsh Foundation
Adam and Margaret Korn
Judy and Leonard Lauder
Leni and Peter May
Greg and Alexandra Mondre
Eric and Wendy Schmidt
Robert K. Steel Family Foundation
Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund
Steve Tisch
As of March 23, 2021
Anonymous Donor
Altman Foundation
AMC Networks
American Express
Jody and John Arnhold I Arnhold Foundation
Shari and Jeff Aronson
Audemars Piguet
Peter A. Boyce II
Cartier
Kathryn and Kenneth Chenault
Diller Scofidio + Renfro
Druckenmiller Foundation
Katherine Farley and Jerry Speyer
First Republic Bank
Ford Foundation
Mark Gallogly and Lise Strickler
Garth Greenan Gallery
Geller & Company
Howard Gilman Foundation
Goldman Sachs & Co.
Katja Goldman and Michael Sonnenfeldt
Meg and Bennett Goodman
Hanover Architectural Products
Edwin B. Hathaway
William Helman
Marlene Hess and James Zirin
Wendy Keys
Knoll, Inc.
L’Oréal
Robert Lehman Foundation
Gladys and Elliot Levine
Jeffrey E. Levine and Randi Charno Levine
Simone and David Levinson and Terminal Warehouse
Marjorie, Michael and Katharine Loeb
Sandeep Mathrani
Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City
MOHAWK Industries
Colby Mugrabi
National Endowment for the Arts
Kathleen and Benjamin F. Needell
Netflix
Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)
Talia and Jon Oringer
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Donald A. Pels Charitable Trust
PPG Industries
Prodject
Rockefeller Brothers Fund
David Rockefeller Fund
Samsung
Sciame Construction
Sidewalk Labs
David M. Solomon
TD Charitable Foundation
Tishman Speyer
ViacomCBS
Tali Farhadian Weinstein and Boaz Weinstein
Deborah Winshel and Michael Harpe
Marie and Kenneth Wong
Mortimer B. Zuckerman
As of March 23, 2021
Laurie Beckelman
Lisa Blau
Emily Chen Carrera
Peter and Susan Rolston Friedes
Janet Goldman
Mr. & Mrs. Martin D. Gruss
Stephanie Joyce and Jim Vos
Tara E. Kelleher
Eleanora Kennedy
Ann Cutbill Lenane
Stephanie and Jim Loeffler
Lisa and Richard Plepler
Susan Plumeri
Ellen Schapps Richman
Kara Ross
Barbara Siegler
Marie and Kenneth Wong
As of March 23, 2021
Anonymous Donor
Lily and Doug Band
Bank of America
Lisa Bellucci
Benjamin Moore
Desiree and Olivier Berggruen
BerlinRosen
Jennifer C. Berrent and Carolyn Eaton Taylor
Sumita Bhattacharya & Monish Kumar
Boies Schiller Flexner LLP
Carolina Herrera
Chubb Limited
Citadel
Ulrika and Joel Citron
Cloudera
Commerzbank AG
Consulate General of Canada in New York
Continental Grain Company
Dr. Ronald and Beth Dozoretz
Elle
Marian Goodman Gallery
General Atlantic
Harkness Foundation for Dance
Sandy Heller
IHS Markit
InStyle
Jane Street
Maryann Jordan and Joseph McDonnell
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Kohn Pedersen Fox
KPMG
Linked by Air
Sarah Long and David Solomon
Made Media
Magic Leap
New York State Council on the Arts
The Pinkerton Foundation
Point72 Asset Management
Sharon Prince
Susan and David Rockefeller
Rockwell Group
Dean Shapiro
Shiraz Creative
Bonnie Ward Simon Foundation
The Paul E. Singer Foundation
Esta Eiger Stecher
Steinway & Sons
Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners
Thornton Tomasetti
Barbara and Donald Tober
Uniform Fighters
Volley Studio
Warburg Pincus
David Zwirner
As of March 23, 2021
Nine Anonymous Donors
Dr. and Mrs. Todd Albert
Candy and Michael Barasch
Desiree and Olivier Berggruen
Tamara and Brad Bernstein
Amanda M. Burden
Gretchen and Stephen Burke
John Callery
Philip Carlucci
Emily and Mike Cavanagh
Elizabeth Cohen
Christine and Cromwell Coulson
Susan Courtemanche and Bob Coleman
Creative Business Inc.
Christopher Cronson
Paul and Caroline Cronson
Hester Diamond
Anna and Jim Fantaci
Laura and John Fisher
Katie Ford
Hugh Freund and Sandra Wijnberg
Ashley Garrett and Alan Jones
Linda Gibbs and Tom McMahon
Maria Gustafson
Susan Hayden
Chris Hogbin
Bruce Horten and Aaron Lieber
Tracey Hummer
Margaret Pomeroy Hunt and Keith Sherry
Deborah McAlister and Christopher Jones
Joyce F. Menschel
Joseph Moinian
Kirsten and Craig Nevill-Manning
Donald E. Newhouse
Elyse and Michael Newhouse
Angela and William O'Donnell
Liz Oliver
Estelle Parsons and Peter L. Zimroth
Tom Peters
Andrea Rosen
Nancy and Rick Rubens
Claudia Saez-Fromm
Helen and Charles Schwab
Kendra and Jeffrey Simes
Sarah Billinghurst Solomon and Howard Solomon
Ellen Sontag-Miller and William C. Miller
Sila Soyer
Alan and Donna Stillman Foundation
Theo U
W. O’Donnell Consulting, Inc.
Helen and Peter Warwick
Soon-Young Yoon
Lois R. Zaro
As of March 23, 2021
Share your experience
#TheShed
#AnAudienceWith