Lincoln Center is the result of a Robert Moses project announced in 1956. A neighbourhood was razed and erased, the complex built, time passed and recently the plaza was ‘reopened’ following its multi-year, $1.3 billion renovation, which began in 2006. That’s a lot of money. It was only a renovation!
Some of the money went to remaking the Revson Fountain. I’ve heard around $10,000,000, from insiders with whom I used to work while a stagehand at the Met Opera House, when I was a student, then lighting director for the Bolshoi Ballet (Moscow) and the Peking Opera (Beijing).
I’m proud having been part of the history of Lincoln Center, and I am happy to see it restored and crowded with concert goers and tourists.
The fountain is spectacular — a must-see! Show times are listed to the right.
Modifications are frowned upon — someone turned the water yellow recently — and, perhaps, under appreciated.
The patterned pavement of the plaza was designed by Philip Johnson, who was inspired by the Campodiglio in Rome. The renovated fountain closely resembles its former incarnation and actually, I think it looks finer and more delicate, because the ‘collar’ surrounding the pool was changed to become a floating seating ring. What’s beneath the seating ring?
Nine other things to know about the Revson Fountain.
Now that we have past the bleak mid-winter, full fountain shows will be more common.
