LINCOLN CENTER TURNS 50

Lincoln Center is commemorating its 50th anniversary with a yearlong celebration. From May 2009 to May 2010, the performing arts giant will hold a series of artistic and educational events, beginning with a ceremony to honor its original groundbreaking and ending with a campus-wide open house. The institution has been undergoing extensive renovations, including the expansion of Alice Tully Hall, as a part of its $650 million redevelopment plan. Many of the projects will be completed during the 2009-2010 season, and events include a free concert by cellist Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, the chamber music society's presentation of Beethoven string quartets, the film society's series of film musicals, and an exhibition of costumes from the Metropolitan Opera. The yearlong celebration is slated to begin on May 11, 2009.