Park It

Making summer plans? Don’t forget to include us. Once again, the Philharmonic will kick off the unofficial start of summer with a free Memorial Day concert on May 27 at The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine. Then it’s the return of a beloved New York tradition with our Concerts in the Parks, Music Director and native New Yorker Alan Gilbert conducts all the orchestral in this year’s lineup. For a borough-by-borough breakdown, here’s our complete schedule.

(Chris Lee photo)

Remembering Hizzoner

The New York Philharmonic honors former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, who died this morning at the age of 88. Ever the promoter of his beloved city, Koch was also a steady presence at Philharmonic events over the decades, from our Concerts in the Parks (these photos show him “backstage” with Lenny in 1986) to our Opening Night Galas and fundraising Radiothons.  

Thanks for the memories, Ed. 

charlydateddybear:

Anyone want to go to the Symphony in the Park in Central Park with me in July?

Now, that’s some advance planning. 

See You in September

Concerts in the Parks, Summertime Classics, Bravo! Vail Music Festival — it’s been a swell summer here at the Philharmonic. (Revisit the memories at our Pinterest page.)

A safe and happy Labor Day holiday to all!

Oboist in the Park

“Not in my wildest dreams did I think I would play in front of this many people,” Philharmonic Principal Oboe Liang Wang revealed, speaking from the Central Park concert where he and the Orchestra performed for more than 45,000 people.

What else does Liang have to say about the Philharmonic’s beloved Concerts in the Parks? Watch this video created by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.

On the Air: Parks Finale

If you didn’t make it to the parks this year to experience the New York Philharmonic perform live, grab your picnic basket and bug spray and head to the nearest radio for WQXR’s broadcast of the Philharmonic’s concert in Van Cortlandt Park this past Tuesday.

Tune in at 8:00 p.m. tonight and enjoy the music of Wagner, Tchaikovsky, and Brahms. The program, hosted by Naomi Lewin and Elliott Forrest (left), features interviews with conductor Andrey Boreyko (right), violinist James Ehnes, and Principal Harp Nancy Allen.

The New York Philharmonic’s 2012 Concerts in the Parks are but a pleasant memory now. Luckily, snapshots from some of the nearly 120,000 music lovers, picnickers, and even Conga line dancers, who turned out for the Orchestra’s performances throughout the five boroughs have been collected on the Philharmonic’s Pinterest page. Revisit the memories (like this great shot of the finale fireworks over Belvedere Castle in Central Park), and be sure to check out our continuing collection of Pinterest boards in the upcoming season.

(photo by sweatengine, via Instagram)

Hey, We See You There

Were you one of the almost 120,000 who came out for the Philharmonic’s free Concerts in the Parks in all five NYC boroughs? Look for yourself in the Virtual Tours, just updated with the final two performances from Central Park and Van Cortlandt Park.

notthebossofme:

At central park to hear the NY philharmonic #nyc #orchestra #central park (Taken with Instagram)