Founded by Leonard Bernstein in 1984, the Concert for Peace fills the world's largest cathedral with music on the last night of the year. The lineup draws on the Cathedral's own Artists in Residence: organist David Briggs, soprano Susanna Phillips, musician Paul Winter and composer Jason Robert Brown. If a countdown inside a barricaded crowd sounds like the wrong way to finish, spend the evening in a stone nave on Amsterdam Avenue instead.
What to expect
You come in off Amsterdam Avenue into an enormous nave and take a seat under the vaulting for about two hours of music. The programme moves between the Cathedral's great organ, solo voice and guest composers rather than running as one continuous orchestral piece. It finishes early enough to get somewhere else, or to stay on for the Watchnight liturgy.
Good to know
- Take the 1 to Cathedral Parkway-110 St and walk two blocks north on Amsterdam Avenue.
- Tickets are available through the Cathedral's own site and this one tends to go before the night itself.
- The nave is stone and draughty, so wear more than you would to a normal concert hall.
- Seating is largely unreserved; arriving early is what buys you a sightline to the organ console.
- The contemplative Watchnight service later the same night is open to anyone, with or without a concert ticket.
- It suits anyone who wants New Year's Eve without a crowd crush, and works for older children upward.
Get Saturday planned every Thursday
One email a week — the best of the NYC weekend board. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Common questions
Is this a religious service?
No. It is a concert in the Cathedral, founded by Leonard Bernstein, and open to anyone. A separate contemplative Watchnight liturgy follows later the same night.
Who is performing?
The Cathedral lists several of its Artists in Residence: organist David Briggs, soprano Susanna Phillips, musician Paul Winter and composer Jason Robert Brown.
Does the concert run past midnight?
No. It is scheduled to end well before midnight, which leaves you time to travel on, or to come back for the Watchnight service.
More this weekend
