Great news, baseball fans! Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic's Central Park gig (Saturday, July 13 at 7:30 p.m.) has gotten the express written consent of Major League Baseball to call itself an All-Star Charity Concert for Sandy Relief.
And who better than to throw out the first note? Yeah, you hit it right on...Mariah Carey.
Carey-Cannon, who currently has no other live dates on her schedule, will be releasing her fourteenth studio album, The Art of Letting Go, on July 23. Ironically enough, expect to hear more than a few tunes from it.
According to much better promotional materials, the Philharmonic will perform two sets of baseball-themed music--including Randy Newman's underrated score to The Natural, as well as the world premiere of trumpeter/composer Mark Isham's suite of cues from 42.
Joe Torre, manager of both the Yanks (1996-2007) and the Mets (1977-81), will read Ernest L. Thayer's classic poem, "Casey at the Bat: A Ballad of the Republic Sung in the Year 1888."
Like all New York Phil park concerts, admission to hear Carey, Torre and Gilbert in Central Park is free. That said, all patrons must be ticketed. General admission entrance will be available online this Wednesday, beginning at 10 a.m.
FYI: The NYP is also offering VIP entry to the first 150 applicants who donate at least $500. However, at The NYT points out, "that money will go to the orchestra, not to hurricane rebuilding efforts."
MLB, which is scheduled to air its Citi Field All-Star Game on Fox three days later, will donate $1 million to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.
"Major League Baseball is committed to leaving a lasting legacy in the community that hosts the All-Star Game. This concert will provide a great opportunity for Major League Baseball to not only raise funds but remind people not to forget about those who still haven't recovered from the devastating impact of superstorm Sandy," MLB commissioner Bud Selig said.
Earlier on that Saturday, MLB will host the All-Star Game 5K & Fun Run for Sandy Relief--presented by Nike, of course--in Brooklyn's version of Central Park, Prospect Park.
