Before the Mahaiwe Center for the Performing Arts opened in 2005, you had to wait for summer to hear the superstars of classical music perform in the Berkshires. So it was appropriate that Emanuel Ax volunteered to play a tribute concert on January 2 in honor of Lola Jaffe, who spearheaded the $9 million renovation of the Great Barrington theater, where the stage has been named for her. The surprise of the night was that Ax had asked Yo-Yo Ma to join him, and the two world-famous and community-minded musicians serenaded Jaffe with pieces by Chopin and Schumann. The not-for-profit Mahaiwe sold so many premium tickets—raising more than $100,000— that the after party had to be split in two with receptions on stage at the Mahaiwe and around the corner at Allium.
The incomparables: Emanuel Ax, Lola Jaffe and Yo-Yo Ma photographed by Michael Lavin Flower.
Philanthropic consultant Philip Deely and actress Hilary Somers Deely; photographer Lincoln Russell & the Red Lion's Nancy Fitzpatrick
Designer Nicholas Xatzís & blogger Athina Fliakos; Catherine Gevers of the Silk Road Project & Jill Hornor Ma.
Actor Andrew Belcher and Marilee Herring.
Bob Jaffe, the son of Lola and co-artistic director of the Berkshire Playwrights Lab and Emanuel Ax; Dru Graham and Patty Warble.
Tea expert John Harney and real-estate powerhouse Elyse Harney; Ben Laufer with his mother, psychiatrist Evelyn Attia, and Gabe Schneier.
MCLA president Mary Grant with Lola Jaffe and Nancy Fitzpatrick.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
