Stanley Kaplan Penthouse

The Kaplan Penthouse is such a wonderful venue for intimate music. I recently saw Isabelle Faust who is an amazing violinist. They had candles, a complimentary glass of wine, and a phenomenal view. I believe only classical music is held here, but they might hold other types of music concerts/​recitals as well.
The only trouble I had was finding it. Gaining access to the penthouse can be a bit confusing (at least for me). Given that the performance was held at 10pm and it’s such a small venue, you won’t find a lot of people waiting near a box office. There is usually a small desk located in front of a bank of elevators ready to take you to the space on the top floor. Either way, it’s such a beautiful place and I would highly recommend it!

This versatile space accommodates a variety of smaller audiences at Lincoln Center. I was fortunate enough to see a preview of Lera Aurebach’s «The Blind,» a multi-​sensory a capella opera (that you all should go see when it premieres during the Lincoln Center Festival). The acoustics are great.

Some of the most memorable concerts I’ve attended in recent-​times have been here: Marc-​Andre Hamelin playing a Schumann Fantasy that was equally mind-​blowing and heart-​breaking… Christian Tetzlaff playing the greatest violin recital I’ve ever experienced (which included a shattering Ravel sonata)… Zefiro doing Mozart’s Gran Partita on original instruments — after the concert, coming back down from Heaven, a beautifully dressed elegant octogenarian looked me in the eyes and, on the verge of tears, said «I’ve been waiting 60 years to hear that performance»… A dinner-​theatre performance (they provided complementary cheese and figs and strawberries and grapes and mineral water) of Monteverdi’s Fifth Book of Madrigals where the performers were hidden among the audience…
Every time I’ve been for a concert there’s been a table at the front of the hall where they offer complementary glasses (and refills) of red wine and white wine… Also, there are lots of pre-​concert lectures and post-​concert Q & As and Meet & Greets (without booze).
An incredibly intimate space with absolutely no pretense, floor-​to-​ceiling windows looking out over the beautiful west-​side Manhattan skyline… I truly absolutely adore this place.