The New York Public Library’s Library Lions Gala is a hallmark of New York’s cultural calendar, honoring icons in literature, art and entertainment. This year’s event, held in the Library’s historic Rose Main Reading Room, celebrated Bruce Springsteen, Shonda Rhimes, James Patterson, Louise Erdrich, Daniel Kehlmann and James McBride — each inducted as the 2025 Library Lions.
Alongside other acclaimed NYC production partners, L&M Sound & Light provided audio and lighting design and production across most of the event, including the Library’s grand entrance, Astor Hall, and the sound for the Rose Reading Room. For the exterior, L&M created a warm, celestial-inspired lighting design to welcome guests, setting the tone for the evening. Inside Astor Hall, the team produced two distinct looks — an elegant cocktail reception followed by an energetic after-party transformation.
According to Vogue’s Nov. 4th article, “The NYPL’s Library Lions Gala Turned Into a Mini Bruce Springsteen Concert,” the New York Public Library’s historic Rose Main Reading Room, “is renowned for its grandeur and regal elegance as much as its scale — spanning some 297-feet, making it about the length of two city blocks.” For one night each year, its 52-foot ceilings and awe-inspiring murals become the setting for this iconic gala.”
Audio Design for an Iconic Space
For the gala event in the Rose Main Reading Room, L&M created an audio system designed to meet the space’s demanding acoustics and architectural characteristics, utilizing 1 SOUND loudspeakers. Four 1 SOUND Tower Systems were placed at the front of the stage as the mains, providing even coverage for speeches and live performances — including a surprise performance by Bruce Springsteen.
According to 1 SOUND, the Towers’ controlled directivity with a wide dispersion pattern and narrow throw of 5-degrees off the top of the loudspeaker ensured clear, balanced audio without reflections bouncing off the vaulted ceiling. Its active cardioid cancellation helped maintain clarity for both spoken word with live lectern microphones and live music, minimizing sound spill onto the stage.
Each Tower System included three Tower LCC44 loudspeakers and a CSUB610 subwoofer, deployed horizontally in omni mode — taking up just 11-inches of floor space for these ground stacks. For delay coverage, three Contour CT28 loudspeakers per side provided full range, medium-far throw coverage needed for consistent sound across the full length of the Reading Room. Its horn-loaded, controlled linear dispersion design kept off-axis reflections to a minimum, says 1 SOUND.
Vogue praised L&M’s audio design for the gala, highlighting its discreet system that delivered consistent coverage and crystal-clear sound throughout the space. This thoughtful setup ensured all 540 attendees could remain focused on the front of the room, fully engaged with the event’s meaningful message.
Onstage with Bruce Springsteen
Courtesy / 1 SOUND
For Springsteen’s performance, L&M used four 1 SOUND CM38 Cardioid Concert Monitors. Compact at just 8-inches tall with a max SPL of 130 dB and a 3-way crossover, these wedges were ideal for the elegant setting —low-profile enough not to obstruct sightlines and high-powered to deliver detailed audio
The CM38’s linear passive cardioid behavior provided an 8 dB reduction behind the monitor, preventing excess stage spill and maintaining clarity for the first rows of seated guests. As Vogue’s Paul Chi reported, “Much to the audience’s delight, Springsteen had also agreed to a surprise concert… Before launching into ‘Thunder Road,’ The Boss paused to acknowledge that while he has played at fireman’s fairs, weddings, and bar mitzvahs… this was a career first: ‘I have never played a f*cking library!’”
A Night of Literary Legends
As the evening concluded, guests transitioned to the after-party in Astor Hall. From the illuminated entryway to the inspiring presentations and performance in the Rose Reading Room, the entire night reflected a balance of artistry and precision — hallmarks of the event’s production.
