Philharmonic Holds Free Concert In Honor Of 9/11
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A free philharmonic concert was held Saturday night at Lincoln Center in honor of the 10th anniversary of September 11th. NY1’s Michael Herzenberg filed the following report. Gustav Mahler's second symphony deals with pain and death, something that hundreds of those who came to Lincoln Center Saturday still struggle with personally.
“Every day is a struggle. Every single day,” said Lorna Kaye, who lost her sister on 9/11.
“A total void,” said Ina Stanley, who also lost a sister on September 11th. “We were always a very close-knit family”
The philharmonic gave first priority to families who lost loved ones on 9/11, survivors and first responders. In total, 600 of them joined 4,200 others. Many of them waited in line for hours Saturday, and some were touched by the terror attacks, as well.
"It traumatizes you," said John Tracey.
Tracey worked weekly in the World Trade Center but wasn't there on that fateful day. Still, he changed his career afterwards.
“I switched to become a high school teacher,” said Tracey. “It was a bad reason but it made a positive change in my life.”
His story speaks to what the last part of the philharmonic’s performance strives to illustrate with words like “o' death, now you are conquered.”
“There's anger and sadness,” said Joseph Alessi.
Alessi is the principal trombonist for the philharmonic. Like the rest of the orchestra, he was stuck in Germany on 9/11. He found out he lost a close friend.
“It still infuriates me that these people took his life,” said Alessi.
Many people, first responders included, said they appreciated the evening. Organizers said it was there way of helping people heal.