New York, NY - April 3rd, 2008- For the 44th season, the New York Philharmonic will bring free music under the stars to New Yorkers in the boroughs of New York City as well as on Long Island and in New Jersey during the 2008 New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks, Presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer. The concerts, which will take place June 24 and July 8–15, 2008, at 8:00 p.m., will be conducted by Bramwell Tovey, Philharmonic Music Director Designate Alan Gilbert, and Associate Conductor Xian Zhang.
JUNE 24 AND JULY 8–15, 2008 PRESENTED BY DIDI AND OSCAR SCHAFER,
The 2008 New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks will begin in Central Park on Tuesday, June 24. Conducted by Bramwell Tovey, the concert will include
Shostakovich’s Festive Overture; Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4, Italian;
Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture; and marches by John Philip Sousa. Associate Conductor Xian Zhang will lead the orchestra in a concert at Heckscher State Park, Long Island, on Saturday, July 12, with works by Mozart, Elgar, and J.S. Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043, performed by New York Philharmonic Associate Principal Concertmaster Sheryl Staples and Assistant Concertmaster Michelle Kim. Music Director Designate Alan Gilbert leads the final concert, on Tuesday, July 15 in Central Park, with Lang Lang performing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, on a program with Beethoven and Sibelius. All concerts begin at 8:00 p.m., with fireworks following each performance. Concerts in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and New Jersey will take place July 8–14. Exact dates, venues, and repertoire will be announced at a later date.
The Philharmonic’s annual free parks concerts have become an integral part of summer in New York, drawing loyal Philharmonic fans from all walks of life. Each year these concerts transform parks throughout the New York area into a patchwork of picnickers, and provide music lovers with an opportunity to hear the best classical music under the stars. Since their inception in 1965, the performances have delighted more than 14 million listeners, including 137,500 last summer alone.
“It is a special pleasure each year for us to offer free concerts in the beautiful parks of the metropolitan area,” says New York Philharmonic President and Executive Director Zarin Mehta. “This year, we’re delighted to welcome back pianist Lang Lang, and to showcase our own wonderful violinists Sheryl Staples and Michelle Kim. We extend our deepest gratitude to Didi and Oscar Schafer for helping us to continue giving this gift to the people of New York.”
Music Director Designate Alan Gilbert, Associate Conductor Xian Zhang, and
Bramwell Tovey To Conduct;
Lang Lang To Perform Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1;
Associate Principal Concertmaster Sheryl Staples and
Assistant Concertmaster Michelle Kim
To Play J.S. Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor
