Sunday, June 13, 2010

New York Philharmonic Memorial Day Concert May 31, 2010

The New York Philharmonic Played the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine on Amsterdam Avenue on last day of May. This Memorial Day Concert is free every year and has been something people line up for for over 19 years. Alan Gilbert a native New Yorker took the helm of the New York Philharmonic as Music Director in September 2009. This was his first time conducting at the beautiful Cathedral Church of St. John that was made when New York was first becoming a "melting pot." This was to be a "house of prayer for all nations," and was made in 1887 when Bishop Henry Codman Potter called for a cathedral to rival St. Patrick's Cathedral on east side of Fifth Avenue in midtown. This year's program opened with Aaron Copland's Fanfare for The Common Man. This was written in 1942 and become Copland's best known work. Next on the program was two symphonies Haydn's Symphony No. 49, La passione, and Schubert's Symphony in B minor, Unfinished. The second Symphony, the "unfinished" was found 40 years after Schuberts death in a desk drawer. This piece was dark and moving and was received by the standing room crowed with a hush and whisper. Then Beethoven, they always save Beethoven for last, maybe because the weight of his music follows you as you walk down the street. On this night The New York Philharmonic played the Egmont Overture, written for a play that at its heart is about political liberation. This was one concert of many that we as New yorkers can enjoy for free.

No comments:

Post a Comment