A Glittery Cast's Cultural Exchange.

NEW York (N.Y.); NEW York (State)

After two relatively subdued programs at Alice Tully Hall last weekend, the Silk Road Project, celebrating its 10th anniversary and Lincoln Center's 50th, pulled out all the stops on Tuesday evening in a free concert at the Damrosch Park band shell. Lincoln Center estimates that 3,500 listeners braved the threatening weather, which in the end produced only a few late sprinkles, and the event was telecast as part of the PBS series ''Live From Lincoln Center.'' Much of the interest undoubtedly stemmed from the star power of the cellist Yo-Yo Ma, the artistic director of the Silk Road Project, a performing and educational enterprise devoted to musical globalization and named for the ancient trade route between Eastern Asia and Western Europe. But the beauty of the project is that it has from the start attracted international performers whose musical virtuosity and personal charisma rival those of Mr. Ma, who often takes a back seat. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

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