Scene Last Night: John Paulson, Russell Carson, Sloth, Greed
The DJ put on Katy Perry, and John Paulson, president of Paulson & Co., and his wife, Jenny, danced with friends. It was the final hour of New York City Ballet’s Spring Gala, and the 850 guests were letting loose.
The evening started with cocktails, shrimp and dumplings on the terrace of the David H. Koch Theater overlooking the fountain at Lincoln Center.
High up on the list of attention-getters was Daniel Brodsky, a real-estate developer and New York City Ballet board member who earlier this week was named chairman of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Other guests included Sarah Jessica Parker, Brooke Shields, Russell Carson, co-founder of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, and National Basketball Association Commissioner David Stern.
On stage was an unusual piece once choreographed by George Balanchine in Paris in 1933 -- “The Seven Deadly Sins” by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht. You may remember the duo had a bigger hit with “Three Penny Opera,” which also illustrates a slight disdain for the capitalistic enterprise.
This one is called a ballet chante, meaning that Patti LuPone and Wendy Whelan shared the role of Anna, who encounters sloth, pride, anger, gluttony, lust, greed and envy in a tour of seven American cities.
LuPone chewed a gigantic drumstick in Philadelphia. In a park in San Francisco (Beowulf Boritt’s most cheerful and elaborate set), Whelan stole a baby from its carriage, jealous of the tanned Californians all dressed in green.
Tattered Scanties
LuPone got to wear a power suit, while Whelan spent most of the night attired in tattered undergarments, a kind of anti- ballerina, lazily pulling socks from clothes lines and embracing ugly old men with paunches.
High couture and happy days returned with Balanchine’s “Vienna Waltzes” featuring ballerinas in pink tutus and ball gowns.
As for the Paulsons, they danced admirably too.
The event raised slightly more than $2 million, a record for the company’s galas, said Executive Director Katherine Brown.
(Amanda Gordon is a writer and photographer for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are her own.)
To contact the writer on this story: Amanda Gordon in New York at agordon01@bloomberg.net or on Twitter at @amandagordon.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.
New York City Ballet
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Jenny and John Paulson, president and co-fund manager, Paulson & Co.
Jenny and John Paulson, president and co-fund manager, Paulson & Co. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
New York City Ballet
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Daniel Brodsky, real-estate developer, newly elected chairman of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City Ballet board member, and one of the chairmen of the New York City Ballet spring gala.
Daniel Brodsky, real-estate developer, newly elected chairman of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City Ballet board member, and one of the chairmen of the New York City Ballet spring gala. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
New York City Ballet
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Meyer Feldberg, a senior adviser at Morgan Stanley, and David Stern, commissioner, National Basketball Association.
Meyer Feldberg, a senior adviser at Morgan Stanley, and David Stern, commissioner, National Basketball Association. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
New York City Ballet
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Fashion designer Erin Fetherston and singer Gabe Saporto. "If you were 15, you'd know me," Saporto said.
Fashion designer Erin Fetherston and singer Gabe Saporto. "If you were 15, you'd know me," Saporto said. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
New York City Ballet
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
John Volgenstein, chairman of New York City Ballet, and Barbara Vogelstein, a board member of the School of American Ballet.
John Volgenstein, chairman of New York City Ballet, and Barbara Vogelstein, a board member of the School of American Ballet. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
New York City Ballet
Russell Carson, co-founder of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, and Judy Carson. The Carsons were co-chairmen of the gala. Photographers: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Russell Carson, co-founder of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, and Judy Carson. The Carsons were co-chairmen of the gala. Photographers: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
New York City Ballet
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
The curtain call for "Vienna Waltzes," part of New York City Ballet's spring gala program.
The curtain call for "Vienna Waltzes," part of New York City Ballet's spring gala program. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
New York City Ballet
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Patti LuPone, after her performance with dancer Wendy Whelan in "The Seven Deadly Sins," and Laura Benanti.
Patti LuPone, after her performance with dancer Wendy Whelan in "The Seven Deadly Sins," and Laura Benanti. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
New York City Ballet
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
The decor for the gala supper was inspired by the Baltimore/Greed scene in "The Seven Deadly Sins," performed earlier on the stage of the David H. Koch Theater.
The decor for the gala supper was inspired by the Baltimore/Greed scene in "The Seven Deadly Sins," performed earlier on the stage of the David H. Koch Theater. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
New York City Ballet
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
The meal, catered by Glorious Food: white and green asparagus with serrano ham and lemon mousseline, followed by roasted halibut provencale and a bombe of mango, passion fruit and lime sorbets. Wines came from Wolffer Estate and La Ferme Martin.
The meal, catered by Glorious Food: white and green asparagus with serrano ham and lemon mousseline, followed by roasted halibut provencale and a bombe of mango, passion fruit and lime sorbets. Wines came from Wolffer Estate and La Ferme Martin. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
New York City Ballet
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Wendy Whelan, principal dancer, who performed in "The Seven Deadly Sins," wearing Bibhu Mohapatra, and her husband, David Michalek, a photographer.
Wendy Whelan, principal dancer, who performed in "The Seven Deadly Sins," wearing Bibhu Mohapatra, and her husband, David Michalek, a photographer. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
New York City Ballet
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Maria Kowroski, a principal dancer with New York City Ballet, in a dress by Bibhu Mohapatra. On stage she performed in "Vienna Waltzes."
Maria Kowroski, a principal dancer with New York City Ballet, in a dress by Bibhu Mohapatra. On stage she performed in "Vienna Waltzes." Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
New York City Ballet
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Sarah Jessica Parker, a New York City Ballet board member, Victor Garber, Matthew Broderick, and Scott Wittman (who with Marc Shaiman wrote the lyrics for the Broadway musical "Catch Me If You Can").
Sarah Jessica Parker, a New York City Ballet board member, Victor Garber, Matthew Broderick, and Scott Wittman (who with Marc Shaiman wrote the lyrics for the Broadway musical "Catch Me If You Can"). Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
New York City Ballet
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Stephanie LaCava, a writer.
Stephanie LaCava, a writer. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
New York City Ballet
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Alexandra Lebenthal, president and CEO of Lebenthal & Co.
Alexandra Lebenthal, president and CEO of Lebenthal & Co. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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