| NEW YORK CITY AT 400 New York Philharmonic Marks Quadricentennial of New York City’s Founding Gustavo Gimeno Leads Works Spotlighting City’s Musical Legacy:Selections from Bernstein’s On the Town,Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F, with Hélène Grimaud, on the100th Anniversary of its World Premiere, and Dvořák’s New World Symphony December 3–6, 2025 |
| The New York Philharmonic joins Founded By NYC in commemorating the 400th anniversary of New York City’s founding through subscription concerts and a panel discussion exploring different facets of the city’s rich musical legacy. On December 3–6, 2025, at David Geffen Hall, Gustavo Gimeno — in his New York Philharmonic debut — leads a New York City–themed program comprising the following works: Three Dance Episodes from Bernstein’s On the Town; the musical about three sailors on shore leave in New York City — which opened on Broadway in 1944 — was one of the early composing successes for Leonard Bernstein, who would go on to be New York Philharmonic Music Director from 1958 to 1969. Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F, featuring Hélène Grimaud as soloist, on the 100th anniversary of its World Premiere. Among the most famous works by New York City native George Gershwin, it was commissioned and premiered by the New York Symphony — which later merged with the New York Philharmonic — led by Walter Damrosch. Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, From the New World; Dvořák composed his ninth symphony while serving as director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York City. It received its World Premiere in December 1893 by the New York Philharmonic — with Dvořák himself in the audience — led by then Music Director Anton Seidl. In addition to these concerts, the New York Philharmonic and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts co-present “Culture: NYC and the American Voice” at Lincoln Center’s David Rubenstein Atrium on December 2, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. The free panel discussion is moderated by Fredara Hadley and includes Rumaan Alam, Ric Burns, and Jeanine Tesori as speakers. New York City’s role in American cultural life is also explored in USA 250: The New York Philharmonic and American Music, an archival exhibit in David Geffen Hall’s Katherine and Gary W. Parr Gallery, open now through February 1, 2026. |
I attended the concert. It was AMAZING.