Remember it is far better to be fashionably late than unfashionably groomed.I take full advantage of a concert , where I can practice the fine art of a structured, glamorous look. I take my time getting ready until the last minute and enjoy the process. What joy and excitement it brings to a night. But seriously, formality is a dying art in this hectic world we live in: it’s enchanting and refreshing to embody grace and propriety now and then.

Alan Gilbert and the Philharmonic collaborated with Masaaki Suzuki, Bernard Labadie, and Andras Schiff for the Bach variations: A Philharmonic Festival. Each artist and associate was able to express his or her distinct take on this monumentally important composer thanks to the versatility and brilliance of the musicians of the orchestra.