It’s a Dog’s Life

The New York Philharmonic was busy this weekend — with the Orchestra’s debut in Davis, CA and the first of two concerts as part of the San Francisco Symphony’s Centennial celebrations — but the intrepid New Yorkers found time for a friendly softball grudge match against the home team, as well as a backstage gatherings with friends old and new, including San Francisco Symphony Music Director (and one-time conductor of the Philharmonic Young People’s Concerts) Michael Tilson Thomas and his dog, Banda.

Check out the play on the field and on the stage by traveling on the CALIFORNIA 2012 virtual tour.

What role does live music play in a world of changing audience habits? Music Director Alan Gilbert and Executive Director Designate Matthew VanBesien will share their thoughts during the keynote conversation in “Talking About Audiences“ — a free public event in San Francisco’s Davies Symphony Hall at 1:30 p.m. (PDT)  Be sure to check out the live webcast.

In the meantime, listen as Alan Gilbert describes his approach to programming and how audiences play into his choices, above.

And catch up on the what critics described as the Philharmonic’s “blistering” debut at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles in our California 2012 Virtual Tour.

California, You’re a Grand Old State

To our friends on the West Coast: be sure to check out “Singing the Golden State” — an exhibit at the Society of California Pioneers in San Francisco curated by James M. Keller, the New York Philharmonic’s Program Annotator, The Leni and Peter May Chair — where you can discover the byways of California and its extraordinary history as documented through early popular songs, and listen to period recordings of California-themed songs from the vaudeville era. The New York Philharmonic will make its own stop in San Francsico during the upcoming CALIFORNIA 2012 tour, when the Orchestra takes part in the Centennial Celebration of the San Francisco Symphony.

(Source: thetwistedpineapple)