“Our conversation led up to extending the festival to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and the conclusion has proven to be far more successful than any of us dreamed of,” Henry Segerstrom said.
This year’s festival showcased traditional and contemporary Chinese culture and heritage in every genre, including photography, music, theater, film and even sports. Many of the leading lights from China’s modern and traditional music and performing arts performed at the festival.
Although he said it’s too early to give specifics on what type of event will be held next year, Gillinson said that the partnership between Carnegie Hall and the philharmonic society is a lasting one.
Elizabeth Segerstrom said the partnership will last a lifetime.
Throughout its 119 years of contribution to art, Carnegie Hall never partnered with an outside organization to put on a festival, until both Gillinson and Henry Segerstrom met through a mutual friend.
It was then that Gillinson and Henry Segerstrom, managing partner of C.J. Segerstrom & Sons, whose family owns South Coast Plaza and who donated the land on which the Orange County Performing Arts Center was built, discovered a mutual philosophy on art.
“That art can lighten up every part of life, that it should be at the center of life and it should help bring people together, cultures together and it should create a great understanding between people, Gillinson said.
For an event like Ancient Paths, Modern Voices to come together, Gillinson said one needs two things: a shared vision and the capacity to present to the highest level.
On Tuesday, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Asia’s oldest orchestra, ended the festival with two performances that honored China and Mexico.
