Avery Fisher Hall to become David Geffen Hall

(photo via Google Maps)

However you look at it, the world of New York high culture was given a surprise dose of glitz on Wednesday, when Lincoln Center announced that David Geffen, the entertainment mogul who has shaped cultural tastes in pop music, art and movies, will donate $100 million to renovate — and rename — Avery Fisher Hall, home of the New York Philharmonic, at Lincoln Center.

Mr. Geffen’s gift will help pay for the hall’s gut renovation, which is expected to cost more than $500 million. Although construction is not scheduled to begin until 2019, the building will become David Geffen Hall this September, with the start of the Philharmonic’s 2015-16 season. – [The New York Times]

The Fischer family was persuaded to give up the name in November in hopes of luring a major investor (they also got $15 million). Though best known as a pop music bigwig (owner of Geffen Records, DGC Records and others), Geffen, 72, told the Times, “I love classical music. Music is music. We need all the support that we can get.”