“Philharmonic Renewed Under a Bold Conductor”, reads the headline of a New York Times article by Steve Smith. The article’s focus, however, is not so much on the orchestra but that section of the repertoire in which their music director, Alan Gilbert, has distinguished himself: music by postwar composers, particularly high-profile performances of music by György Ligeti, Magnus Lindberg, and others.
Continue reading Not Quite Delivering What the Title Promises
The program: Beethoven and Adams. My review is up at Classical Source.
The US Department of the Treasury (yes, these matters fall within their puirview) has green-lighted a Cuba visit by the New York Philharmonic. Daniel Wakin at the NYTimes has the details.
The New York Times‘ Daniel Wakin reports that Thomas Stacy, the New York Philharmonic’s acclaimed English horn player, is retiring effective immediately.
The NY Times reports that the New York Philharmonic has offered its principal clarinet seat, vacant since the retirement of Stanley Drucker, to Philadelphia Orchestra principal Ricardo Morales. Much as I would love to see him with the Philharmonic, his defection would prove another blow to the financially-buffeted Philadelphians.
Henry Hadley, remembered today as a late Romantic composer, leads the New York Philharmonic in Wagner’s Tannhäuser Overture, minus a huge cut in the introduction (hat tip: Richard Schneider). Keep in mind that at the time Willem Mengelberg was well into his tenure as the orchestra’s music director. Here is yet more evidence that puts the lie to the assertion that Toscanini built the Philharmonic into a virtuoso orchestra.
Just back from the all-Stravinsky program with Valery Gergiev guest conducting the New York Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall — part of the orchestra’s “The Russian Stravinsky” series, and the orchestra’s 15,000th concert!
Continue reading Valery Gergiev, talented and maddening as he can be