“Soul-Wrenching”

What the critics are saying about this week’s performances of Koyaanisqatsi:

“Last night the movie’s powerful images were joined in the flesh by Philip Glass, his Ensemble and the New York Philharmonic to aurally and visually submerge the audience at Avery Fisher Hall in a panoply of soul-wrenching emotions. … We will never watch the movie without the New York Philharmonic again.”

— Gothamist on the “5 Soul-Wrenching Emotions Experienced Watching Koyaanisqatsi With Philip Glass & The NY Philharmonic”

“Koyaanisqatsi is the greatest marriage of music and image since Fantasia. And to hear Philip Glass’ score performed live … gives it the dominance the images ordinarily hold in a movie theater setting, highlighting its too easily overlooked brilliance: the aural evocations of artifice and nature, the grand emotion.”

— The L Magazine on how the New York Philharmonic “totally rocked” Philip Glass’s Koyaanisqatsi

“See the world you live in” tonight and tomorrow night when the New York Philharmonic performs Koyaanisqatsi live with Philip Glass and the Philip Glass Ensemble.

(Source: starkiller1701)

On October 4, 1982, more than 5,000 people filled the sold-out Radio City Music Hall to experience the world premiere of Godfrey Reggio’s film Koyaanisqatsi — the title means “life out of balance” in the Hopi Indian vernacular. Featuring music by Philip Glass the film, which The New York Times called “remarkably seductive,” became a cult classic with its striking take on the state of American civilization through image and sound.

Experience this “entertaining trip” on November 2–3, when the New York Philharmonic performs the score alongside the film with Philip Glass and the Philip Glass Ensemble.

“Koyaanisqatsi, you’re about to get watched.”

Who’s celebrating Philip Glass’s 75th birthday with the composer and his ensemble? The New York Philharmonic and Avery Fisher Hall audiences on November 2–3, when Glass’s iconic score for Godfrey Reggio’s cult classic — and favorite of Otto Mann —  Koyaanisqatsi will be performed alongside the film, featuring Philip Glass and the Philip Glass Ensemble, conductor Michael Riesman, and The Collegiate Chorale, James Bagwell, director.

Tonight, Tonight!

West Side Story starts tonight! The New York Philharmonic will perform Bernstein’s entire score with film for two nights only: September 7 and 8. In this photo, David Newman conducts the Philharmonic in rehearsal at Avery Fisher Hall. Read more about it at nytimes.com.

5 Great Movie Nights in 2011!

The New York Philharmonic goes to the movies in style this fall! In addition to special performances for the 50th Anniversary of West Side Story on September 7 and 8, and A Night at the Movies with Academy Award-winning composer and conductor John Williams on October 25, the Orchestra presents a third program of music and film on November 2 and 3 to celebrate Philip Glass’s 75th birthday year. The two concerts feature LIVE performances of Mr. Glass’s score for Godfrey Reggio’s 1982 cult classic Koyaanisqatsi — the Philharmonic’s first performances of the work — in conjunction with the film. Joining the Orchestra and the composer will be the Philip Glass Ensemble, conductor Michael Riesman conducting (each in their Philharmonic debuts), as well as the Westminster Symphonic Choir.

Previously, the only way to hear the New York Philharmonic perform music from Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story was by attending a performance of the Symphonic Dances, which the composer had arranged for the Philharmonic and was premiered in 1961 on a special all-Bernstein Valentine’s concert. Now you can hear “Lenny’s Orchestra” play the entire score, live, as the Philharmonic celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Academy Award-winning film, September 7–8, 2011, conducted by David Newman and featuring the newly restored film in HD.