The New York Philharmonic

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PHOTOS: 2019 Concerts in the Parks

The New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks, Presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer, returned for the 54th season of priceless music, absolutely free, in every New York City borough. Conducting the iconic series for the first time, Music Director Jaap van Zweden led the Orchestra in evocative music by Rossini, Copland, Rachmaninoff, and — for the second year in a row — New York Philharmonic Very Young Composers. Check out photos in the slideshow above and a highlights reel here.

PHOTOS: 2018 Concerts in the Parks

The New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks, Presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer, returned for the 53rd season of priceless music, absolutely free, in every New York City borough. Native New Yorker James Gaffigan conducted the Orchestra in music celebrating Laureate Conductor Leonard Bernstein’s centennial, evocative works by Saint-Saëns and Rimsky-Korsakov, and — for the first time ever — original compositions by students in the Philharmonic’s Very Young Composers program. Joining the Orchestra were post-graduate students from the Shanghai Orchestra Academy, who performed alongside their Philharmonic mentors during their weeklong immersion in the life of an orchestral musician.

PHOTOS: 2017 Concerts in the Parks

The 52nd summer of the New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks, Presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer, brought almost 100,000 music lovers to hear the New York Philharmonic perform for free in every New York City borough. In his final appearances in New York as Music Director, Alan Gilbert led masterworks by Dvořák, Bernstein, and Gershwin — all written in New York and premiered by the Philharmonic. Local bands gave pre-concert performances, and audiences joined the Orchestra in community performances of the “Goin’ Home” theme from Dvořák’s New World Symphony, all part of The New World Initiative and the Philharmonic’s 175th anniversary season celebration of its hometown.

The New York Philharmonic Wants YOU

The New World Initiative — the Philharmonic’s season-long, citywide project revolving around Dvořák’s New World Symphony through performances, community outreach, and education projects on the occasion of the Philharmonic’s 175th anniversary season — is heading for an exciting finale.

At this year’s New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks, Presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer, we invite you to join the Orchestra in a community performance of the “Goin’ Home” theme from the Largo movement of Dvořák’s New World Symphony before the concerts in the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn, June 13–16. Music Director Alan Gilbert — in his final New York performances as Music Director — will conduct the crowd before leading the Orchestra in the complete symphony during the concerts.

Bring any instrument, and/or your voice. Novices are just as welcome as professionals. The simple, beautiful theme will be taught to the crowd beforehand, and vocal and instrumental parts will be available online before the concerts at newworldinitiative.com.

Throughout the 2016–17 season, 114 musical ensembles from all five boroughs, totaling more than 1,000 musicians, participated in The New World Initiative by performing the New World Symphony, selections from it, arrangements of it, or reinterpretations of it. The New World Symphony was introduced to 15,000 students and teachers at the Philharmonic’s Young People’s Concerts for Schools, and the Philharmonic’s Facebook Live broadcast of its Opening Gala Concert featuring the New World Symphony received 150,000 views.

(Photo: Chris Lee)

2016 Concerts in the Parks Begin in Central Park

The New York Philharmonic's Concerts in the Parks are back for another summer of beautiful music under the stars. The 51st season kicked off this week with two concerts on Central Park's Great Lawn, drawing more than 63,000 music lovers over two nights. The first night opened with a tribute to the victims of the Orlando tragedy. Principal Clarinet Anthony McGill was the soloist in Mozart's lyrical Clarinet Concerto, and Music Director Alan Gilbert led the New York Philharmonic — plus four New York Philharmonic Global Academy students having the opportunity of a lifetime — in music by Beethoven, plus R. Strauss and Wagner. 

Touring New York City

After back-to-back performances in Central Park, Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic took the Concerts in the Parks, Presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer — with major corporate support from MetLife Foundation, Citi, and Emirates Airline — on the road, bringing priceless music, absolutely free, to Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Before the Orchestra performed works by Rossini, Mozart, Richard Strauss, and others, each concert was preceded by an appearance by a band from each borough through Share the Stage, the Philharmonic’s initiative to salute the diversity of New York City's resident musicians.

PHOTOS: Concerts in the Parks Conclude in Queens and Staten Island

The celebration of the 50th anniversary of the New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks, Presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer, wrapped up this week with an all-American program led by Music Director Alan Gilbert in Queens's Cunningham Park, and a Free Indoor Concert in Staten Island featuring Musicians from the New York Philharmonic. Special for the 50th anniversary was Share the Stage pre-show entertainment: jazz percussionist Steven Kroon warmed up the crowd in Queens, and folk musicians Bob Conroy and Norm Pederson with Bill Doerge welcomed the Staten Island audience.

PHOTOS: 50th Anniversary of Concerts in the Parks Continues in Central Park and Brooklyn

38,000 music lovers gathered in Manhattan’s Central Park and Brooklyn’s Prospect Park for two of this summer’s New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks, Presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer, celebrating 50 years of priceless music, absolutely free. The 50th anniversary festivities included a Share the Stage pre-show performance by the Brooklyn Interdenominational Choir and an exhibit exploring the Philharmonic’s history in Brooklyn. Charles Dutoit led both Philharmonic concerts, with soloist Renaud Capuçon and music by Berlioz, Saint-Saëns, Stravinsky, and Ravel.