Harry Connick Jr., the renowned American musician, is set to make his stunning Carnegie Hall main stage debut in a deeply personal fashion. On May 22, 2026, Connick will premiere a specially composed piece, celebrating the 100th birthday of his late mother, Anita Frances Livingston, as part of Carnegie's 2025-26 season titled United in Sound: America at 250.
This upcoming performance marks a significant moment in Connick's career. Although he has previously performed at Carnegie's smaller Zankel Hall, this event represents a major milestone. His new composition has been given the tentative title Elaboratio, which aims to musically encapsulate and celebrate his mother's life.
Connick's manager had preemptively secured a May 22, 2026 booking at Carnegie Hall by calling the executive director Clive Gillinson seven years ago. Connick shared, I just wanted to do something that I think would have made her proud and honor her memory by performing in a place that she always wanted me to play.
Connick's mother, Anita, passed away in 1981 when he was just 13, leaving a lasting impact on his life. In tribute to her, Connick's unique composition consists of three movements, each reflecting the distinct places she lived: New York, Nouaceur in Morocco, and New Orleans.
The Carnegie Hall season, spanning from January to July 2026, will be a musical celebration of America’s diverse sounds in honor of the Declaration of Independence's anniversary. The festival lineup is set to host more than 35 performances, encompassing varied genres such as jazz, rock 'n' roll, hip-hop, Broadway, and bluegrass. Compositions by legendary artists including Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Philip Glass, and contemporary talents like Wynton Marsalis, alongside works by underrepresented composers such as Amy Beach and Florence Price, will feature prominently.
Among the notable events is a performance on March 2, 2026, based on Jack Viertel's book The Secret Life of the American Musical, starring J. Harrison Ghee and Betsy Wolf. Additionally, the festival is to be enriched by the prestigious Carnegie Perspectives series involving esteemed artists like conductor Marin Alsop, pianist Lang Lang, mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, and violinist Maxim Vengerov. Special mention goes to Arvo Pärt, the renowned composer approaching his 90th birthday, who will assume the Debs Composer's Chair, albeit not traveling to New York due to his age.
The festival will open with a gala night under conductor Daniel Harding, featuring alumni of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America and pianist Yuja Wang. This spectacular opening includes selections from Bernstein's symphonic dances from West Side Story, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, and Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite.
Harry Connick Jr.'s upcoming performance is set to be an emotional and historical tribute to his mother's life and legacy, resonating with audiences while showcasing his extraordinary musical talents within one of the world's most iconic venues.
