New York City’s Carnegie Hall came alive on the evening of March 3, 2025, with a celebration that blended art, activism, and music in an unforgettable showcase of talent and solidarity. The 38th Annual Tibet House US Benefit Concert brought together a spectacular lineup of avant-garde musicians, poets, and performers, creating a mesmerizing night of sonic exploration, political reflection, and cultural homage. The concert, held annually in support of Tibet House US, continues its mission to preserve and promote Tibetan culture while raising awareness about the ongoing struggle for Tibetan freedom. This year’s event coincided with the Year of the Wood Snake, symbolizing growth, transformation, and deep intuition—qualities that resonated deeply throughout the night’s performances.
Under the artistic direction of Philip Glass and Laurie Anderson, the evening featured a star-studded and eclectic mix of legendary artists and emerging talents. The program showcased stunning performances from a broad spectrum of genres, including experimental, classical, rock, folk, and jazz. The lineup included: Laurie Anderson, Patti Smith, Jackson Browne, Michal Stipe, Orville Peck, Arooj Aftab, Allison Russell, Tune-Yards, Angélique Kidjo, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Gogol Bordello, Gina Gershon, The Philip Glass Ensemble, Tenzin Choegyal, Sexmob, The Scorchio Quartet, Jesse Paris Smith, Rebecca Foon, Tony Shanahan, Brian Griffin, Erik Della Penna and Andy York.
As the lights dimmed, the evening was set in motion by an invocation from Monks of the Drepung Gomang Monastery, filling the hall with their hauntingly resonant chants. Their powerful voices, rich with centuries-old tradition, reverberated through Carnegie Hall, setting the stage for an evening of music that was as much about spiritual connection as it was about artistic expression.
The Philip Glass Ensemble opened with a performance of Koyaanisqatsi, a masterpiece that cascaded through the hall like an endless sonic waterfall, pulling the audience into its hypnotic flow. Arooj Aftab followed with her ethereal ballads, Raat Ki Rani and Mohabbat, blending jazz with classical South Asian influences to evoke passion and longing. Tenzin Choegyal, a leading Tibetan musician, delivered a deeply moving solo chant, embodying the resilience of his homeland. He was then joined by the Yinda Yin Children of Tibet and the Scorchio Quartet for a stirring rendition of GangeRi Rawe, a performance that transported the audience into the heart of Tibet’s musical heritage.
A palpable sense of anticipation filled the air as Patti Smith took the stage. The punk poet laureate began with a powerful reading of Allen Ginsberg’s Howl, her voice charged with urgency and raw emotion. She followed up with her song Peaceable Kingdom, dedicated to the late activist Rachel Corrie and children lost to war. Closing her set, she roused the audience with a brief but electric delivery of People Have the Power, a rallying cry for unity and activism.
The night’s momentum surged forward as Tune-Yards delivered an explosive, funk-infused set featuring How Big Is the Rainbow? and Limelight, with harmonies amplified by the backup vocals of Gina Gershon, Allison Russell, and Laurie Anderson. Their dynamic presence injected a powerful rhythmic energy into the evening. Orville Peck transformed the hall into a cinematic dreamscape with his haunting rendition of Death of Night, followed by a stripped-down, deeply emotional cover of Leonard Cohen’s Chelsea Hotel #2. He then shared the stage with Allison Russell for a soul-stirring duet of Chemical Sunset.
In a moment of literary reverence, Ebon Moss-Bachrach delivered an evocative reading of Allen Ginsberg’s Wales Visitation, intertwining poetry with a delicate soundscape provided by the Scorchio Quartet. The atmosphere then shifted as Laurie Anderson performed her avant-garde composition Junior Dad, alongside the experimental jazz collective Sexmob and violist Martha Mooke. Michael Stipe entered the stage, his presence immediately commanding, to recite Desiderata by Max Ehrmann, a poem of quiet strength and reflection. Laurie Anderson echoed his words, creating a layered duet of spoken-word brilliance. Stipe then transitioned into a moving rendition of David Bowie’s The Man Who Sold The World, before being joined by Tenzin Choegyal, Laurie Anderson, Sexmob, and Martha Mooke for a breathtaking performance of No Time for Love Like Now.
Just when the night seemed to have reached its emotional peak, Jackson Browne took the stage, delivering his timeless classics Don’t You Want to Be There and Far From the Arms of Hunger, filling the hall with his signature warmth and wisdom. The energy soared as Angélique Kidjo brought the entire audience to its feet with an electrifying call-and-response performance of Afrika. Her powerful voice, filled with soul and conviction, turned Carnegie Hall into a massive chorus of unity.
Laurie Anderson then returned to the stage to share Lou Reed’s three rules of life, demonstrating Tai Chi movements that she invited the audience to participate in. The entire hall moved as one, creating an unexpected but beautiful moment of collective meditation and reflection.
With spirits at an all-time high, Gogol Bordello burst onto the stage, launching into their high-energy anthem Solidarity. Frontman Eugene Hütz took a moment to remind the audience of the struggles in Ukraine and Tibet, reinforcing the night’s overarching theme of resistance and resilience. In a breathtaking finale, the entire cast of performers returned to the stage for a triumphant reprise of Patti Smith’s People Have the Power, turning the evening into a full-fledged rally for change, hope, and artistic freedom. Carnegie Hall reverberated with the voices of artists and audience alike, united in a moment that transcended the concert itself.
As the last notes faded, the message of the evening remained clear: solidarity, peace, and cultural preservation. The 38th Annual Tibet House US Benefit Concert was not merely a performance but a collective call to action, an embodiment of art’s power to inspire change. In a world increasingly divided, this night at Carnegie Hall stood as a testament to the resilience of Tibet, the enduring strength of the arts, and the undeniable power of people coming together to sing, dance, and fight for freedom.
