Gustavo Dudamel, still the designated music director, opened the New York Philharmonic's season with a compelling program featuring a world premiere, Bartok concerto, and Ives symphony, offering a glimpse of the orchestra's future under his leadership.
The New York Philharmonic premiered "Émigré," an oratorio about Jewish brothers fleeing to Shanghai to escape Nazi persecution, but the music by Aaron Zigman and the libretto failed to capture the dramatic allure of the setting, resulting in a bland and unengaging performance.
The New York Philharmonic premieres a new musical work, Émigré, which tells the fictional story of two Jewish brothers who fled Germany to make a new life in Shanghai during World War II. The piece, created by conductor Long Yu and a team of collaborators, sheds light on the little-known history of the Jewish community in Shanghai and the unlikely refuge it provided. Through a blend of opera, drama, and musical theater, Émigré explores the real-life experiences of Jewish émigrés in Shanghai, carrying a message of moral urgency and the importance of openness and acceptance.
Jaap van Zweden, the current music director of the New York Philharmonic, will begin a five-year term as the music director of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France in 2026 after leaving his position in New York later this summer. He will also serve as the music director of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. Van Zweden, who started his career as a concertmaster in Amsterdam, expressed his excitement about joining the French radio orchestra in Paris and plans to focus on promoting new works, particularly contemporary pieces by French composers, during his tenure.
Jaap van Zweden, the music director of the New York Philharmonic, is bidding farewell this spring with a series of performances, including a gala featuring Gustavo Dudamel, the orchestra's next music director. The spring program includes classic pieces by Mozart and Beethoven, as well as new compositions by Tan Dun and Joel Thompson. Van Zweden's meticulousness and inventive conducting style will be showcased in these performances, marking the end of his tenure with the orchestra.
Renowned violinist Hilary Hahn was announced as the recipient of the $100,000 Avery Fisher Prize during her performance as artist in residence with the New York Philharmonic. The prize recognizes individuals who have made lasting contributions to classical music alongside artistic excellence. Hahn's extensive contributions include community engagement, commissioning new works, and accessibility to fans through social media. Her upcoming performances with the Philharmonic and her residency with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra highlight her dedication to both artistic excellence and community involvement.
The New York Philharmonic is programming Julia Perry's "Stabat Mater," a 1951 work for contralto and strings, marking the first time the orchestra has included her in their program. Perry, a Black composer who died in 1979, had a successful career in the 1950s and '60s but fell into obscurity after her death. The upcoming performance of "Stabat Mater" and other recent presentations of Perry's works are bringing attention to her legacy and influencing the field. The 100th anniversary of Perry's birth is approaching, and a world premiere recording of her Violin Concerto is set to be released in March 2024.
The New York Philharmonic premiered Steve Reich's new piece, "Jacob's Ladder," which marks a return to his signature chugging rhythms after his previous departure in "Traveler's Prayer." The 20-minute composition features a propulsive rush of vibraphone, brightly etched melodies, and biblical text sung in Hebrew by the vocal quartet Synergy Vocals. The piece is energetic yet meditative, with softly luminous dissonances and fleeting moments of brightness. The concert also included performances of Beethoven's "Emperor" Piano Concerto and Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony, showcasing how seamlessly Reich's work fits in with the classics.
The final season of Jaap van Zweden's tenure as music director of the New York Philharmonic has begun, featuring a new suite commissioned by star violinist Joshua Bell. However, the focus has been on Bell and the recently departed chief executive Deborah Borda, rather than van Zweden himself. Van Zweden's time in New York has been marked by the orchestra's survival through the pandemic, the renovation of Geffen Hall, and an emphasis on contemporary music. While his choices of music have been standard, his conducting style is characterized by tension and precision. The season will include core repertoire works and newer pieces, culminating in Mahler's Second Symphony for his finale in June.
The New York Philharmonic has received a groundbreaking $40 million donation from financier Oscar L. Tang and his wife, Agnes Hsu‐Tang, the largest endowment gift in the orchestra's history. The donation will be used to endow the Philharmonic's music and artistic director chair starting in the 2025-26 season when Gustavo Dudamel becomes music director designate. The gift is seen as a significant boost for the Philharmonic, which has recently stabilized its finances and undergone a major renovation of its concert hall. Tang and Hsu-Tang expressed their confidence in the Philharmonic's new leadership and their desire to support music education and social change initiatives.
Gustavo Dudamel, the world-renowned conductor, led the New York Philharmonic in Mahler's Ninth Symphony during his first rehearsal with the orchestra since being named its next music director. Although he won't take the podium until 2026, Dudamel's five days with the Philharmonic this month were an unofficial start. He urged the musicians to embrace Mahler's operatic impulses and varied style during intense rehearsals, and was greeted as a rock star by the orchestra, with musicians lining up for selfies and hugs.
Gustavo Dudamel has resigned as Music Director of Opéra National de Paris at the end of the 2022-23 season for personal reasons. Dudamel stated that he wants to spend more time with his family. The Opéra de Paris will communicate details about the upcoming 2023-24 season and any changes that may occur with Dudamel’s announced performances. Dudamel is set to become the Music Director of the New York Philharmonic during the 2026-27 season.
Gustavo Dudamel, the music director of the Paris Opera, will resign in August, four years ahead of schedule and after just two seasons in the job, to spend more time with his family. Dudamel also leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic and will take over as music and artistic director of the New York Philharmonic in 2026. His resignation comes a few months after he made the surprise announcement that he would leave his post in Los Angeles.
Gustavo Dudamel conducted the New York Philharmonic in Mahler's Ninth Symphony, his first performance with the orchestra since being named its next music director. Dudamel achieved a casualness in his conducting, leading with easy flow and briskness, avoiding exaggerated solemnity. While the performance lacked a certain degree of personality and depth, the final minutes were sensible and pleasantly even-keeled. The program continues through Sunday at David Geffen Hall.
Gustavo Dudamel received a seven-minute standing ovation after conducting Mahler's Ninth Symphony in his first performance with the New York Philharmonic since agreeing to become their music director starting in 2026-2027. Dudamel will continue as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Paris Opéra.