To kick off the 2011-2011 Season, Carnegie Hall is hosting a gala benefit concert featuring the Mariinsky Orchestra, music director Valery Gergiev and cellist Yo-Yo Ma on October 5 at 7 p.m.

The special event continues Carnegie Hall’s 120th anniversary year celebration and launches a month-long focus on Tchaikovsky, who conducted Carnegie Hall’s opening night in 1891.

On October 5, the all-Russian program will include Yo-Yo Ma performing Tchaikovsky’s variations on Rococo theme, Shostakovich’s Festive Overture and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade in Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage.

The black tie Opening Night Gala event is co-chaired by Mercedes and Sid Bass among others and the honorary chairmen include The Honorable John R. Beyrle, Ambassador of the United States to the Russian Federation, and His Excellency Sergey I. Kislyak, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the United States.

The gala will benefit Carnegie Hall’s artistic and education programs and includes a dinner at The Waldorf Astoria’s Grand Ballroom following the concert.

Gala benefit tickets are priced at $5,000, $2,500 and $1,500 and include premier concert seating and the post-concert dinner at The Waldorf Astoria. Benefit tickets, which cost $1000, include the concert and a pre-concert cocktail reception beginning at 5:30 p.m. in Carnegie Hall’s Rohatyn Room.

Gala benefit tickets are available by calling: 2120903-9679 or online here.

A limited number of concert-only tickets, priced $49-$154, are currently available at the Carnegie Hall Box Office, by calling 212-247-7800 or online here.

The Mariinsky Orchestra and Maestro Gergiev return for four additional concerts after the Opening Night performance on October 6-11.