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Bravo, Maestro
By: Esther Davidowitz
For me, the evening began with a heady concert (the last of the 2008-2009 season) by the Westchester Philharmonic Orchestra at its regular home (the Concert Hall at the Performing Arts Center at SUNY Purchase), conducted by, well, by now you must know, Itzhak Perlman. I had to wonder who loved being there more, Perlman or I. He walked (on crutches) to take his final bow for the season, beaming. The audience was beaming. So was I. Then it was on to a benefit gala for the Westchester Philharmonic at the Ritz Carlton, Westchester. County Executive Andy Spano said that he uses the fact that Westchester has such a high-caliber symphony orchestra, just as good, he said, or even better than the one just south of us, to lure new businesses to Westchester. New Jersey, he implied, presents no competition. And then, as if one heady performance wasn’t enough, Perlman, accompanied by two young musicians, played the violin for us. And since he said the Beethoven piece he chose did not have an obvious ending, he asked that we not applaud until “I’m finished. I’ll look at you so you’ll know.” Laughs. Wonderful sounds. Brief silence. Applause.
 | ArtsWestchester Executive Director Janet Langsam of Armonk, Philharmonic Executive Director Joshua Worby of Princeton, New Jersey, Congresswoman Nita Lowey of Rye, and Philharmonic Artistic Director Itzhak Perlman of Manhattan |
| CBS Reporter Tony Aiello with wife Liz of New Rochelle, Nancy and Dennis Elsas of Rye, and David and Laurie Cox of New Rochelle |  |
 | Sarah Lang of Dobbs Ferry with Westchester Magazine Editor-in-Chief Esther Davidowitz |
