Lincoln Center (1967)

[Music] The Beneficial influence of this great cultural Adventure will not be limited to our borders here will occur a true interchange of the fruits of national cultures from this we'll develop a growth that will spread to the corners of the earth bringing with it the kind of human message that only individuals not governments can transmit [Music] [Applause] [Music] it is a great pleasure for me to tell you something about Lincoln Center and the progress of the long dream which is still unfolding Lincoln Center's construction was started in 1959 designed by a group of world famous Architects it's buil buildings form a magnificent Enclave right in the middle of New York [Music] City its Beauties have been enhanced by some of the world's most famous sculptors by men such as Alexander [Music] CA Richard lipold Henry Mo and jacqu lipix and by such magical paintings as the great murals of Mark shagal in the Metropolitan Opera [Music] house the first building to open was philonic Hall in September of 1962 this was designed by Max abramovitz and is the home of the renowned New York philonic and His Brilliant conductor Leonard berstein [Music] [Applause] [Music] the second Hall the New York State Theater designed by Philip Johnson opened in April of [Music] [Applause] 1964 it is onou ly one of the finest settings for ballet in the world and here that choreographic genius George balen stages his wonderful ballets and the New York City Opera its fresh and imaginative Productions [Music] and here also I hell seasons of that Lively American art form the musical comedy presented by the Music Theater of Lincoln Center under the direction of its famous composer Richard rers I I anything you can be I can be greater sooner or later I'm greater than you no you're not yes I am no you're not yes I am no you're not yes I am yes I am next came the Vivian Bowmont theater designed by Aeros saronin the first theater for drama built in New York since 1927 here the Repertory Theater of Lincoln Center presents its season of plays which are chosen from classical and contemporary work from all countries prominent playwrights have included bre O'Neal molier s and Miller who's after the fall was given its World premiere by the Repertory Theater if there is love it a love not of persons But Blind blind to insult blind to the Spar In the Flesh like justice [Music] blind the fourth major Hall is the Metropolitan Opera House which opened in September of 1966 with Samuel barers Anthony and Cleopatra a work specially commissioned for the event [Music] but linoln Center is more than just a splendid setting for performance it has a mission a mission to educate the Lincoln Center student program brings professional performers to the schools to students who may never have seen a living artist in a year more than a thousand performances were brought directly into the schools to more than a million students and thousands of students were brought to performances at Lincoln Center itself two great educational institutions are an integral part of Lincoln Center one is the library and Museum of the Performing Arts an unique institution whose vast collections of books records exhibits and memorabilia serve all ages and all stages of study from the simple enjoyment of a child listening to a recording to the demands of the most meticulous [Music] scholar the other educational institution is the distinguished juliard school both admission requirements and curricula at juliard are oriented toward the gifted student who receives the Intensive training which must precede a professional career career juliard at Lincoln Center trains musicians dancers and actors as well as composers playwrights choreographers and theater technicians be nice to play it not [Music] here will'll develop a mighty influence for peace and understanding throughout the world I pay sincere tribute to your vision your effort your energy that is creating the Lincoln Center for the Performing Art Lincoln Center is more than the sum of its parts more than the individual experience of a great performance more than an oasis of lovely buildings for Lincoln Center and its member institutions seek to educate to innovate to serve the public through entertainment at the highest level of artistic achievement all of Lincoln Center's great organizations together with the many out standing visiting artists give the public a spectrum of the Performing Arts ranging from the masterpieces of the past to the experiments of the present in short Lincoln Center is a dynamic vital Enterprise it offers qualities which illuminate and give meaning to our lives those special qualities of perfection nobility and Splendor which only the Arts can give n [Music]