New York Philharmonic Podcast

This podcast is designed especially to acquaint young listeners with the themes and music of the December 12, 2009 Young People’s Concert.

David Fray talks about the challenges of performing Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major, and New York Philharmonic Director of Education Theodore Wiprud discusses the Impressionist sensibilities of Debussy’s La Mer and the completely original idea behind Bartók’s Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta.

New York Philharmonic Program Annotator James M. Keller discusses Honegger's edgy but hopeful and beautifully crafted Symphony No. 2, and Director of Education Theodore Wiprud explains how Beethoven's revolutionary Eroica Symphony changed the course of classical music history.

New York Philharmonic Program Annotator James M. Keller discusses the famous opening passage of Liszt’s beautiful and fascinating tone poem Les Préludes, and Mark Travis talks about Elgar’s romantic In the South and selections from Prokofiev’s passionate Romeo and Juliet

In the first podcast of this two-part series (the second one will air in January), Music Director Alan Gilbert talks with host Mark Travis about the excitement of conducting on Opening Night, developing a unique sound with the Orchestra, the importance of touring, and the role he hopes the Philharmonic will play in the cultural life of his and the Orchestra's hometown, New York City.

This special podcast is designed especially to acquaint young listeners with the themes and music of our November 7, 2009 Young People’s Concert, which features Benjamin Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.

Conductor Xian Zhang discusses why she finds Haydn's symphonies — including his Symphony No. 95 — the most challenging to perform; pianist Garrick Ohlsson reflects on Martinu's emotional Incantation, Piano Concerto No. 4; and Elliott Forrest looks at the musical influences behind Sibelius's stirring Symphony No. 1.

Baritone Thomas Hampson, the Philharmonic's Mary and James G. Wallach Artist-in-Residence, talks about performing Zemlinsky's beautiful Lyric Symphony, which also features soprano Hillevi Martinpelto; Philharmonic Program Annotator James M. Keller discusses Mozart's masterful Symphony No. 38, Prague; and Mark Travis explores Beethoven's high-spirited Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus.

Alan Gilbert discusses the beauty and importance of Ives's Symphony No. 2, and why Ives's compelling Unanswered Question and Beethoven's groundbreaking Piano Concerto No. 4 – performed by pianist Emanuel Ax – are kindred spirits.

Alan Gilbert discusses leading his friend Frank Peter Zimmermann in Brahms's Violin Concerto — one of the greatest works in the repertoire — as well as conducting Schoenberg's beautiful and expressive tone poem Pelleas und Melisande.

Alan Gilbert shares his excitement about conducting Mahler's Symphony No. 3 – featuring mezzo-soprano Petra Lang, the Women of the Westminster Symphonic Choir, and The American Boychoir – in his first subscription concerts as the Orchestra's Music Director, and he discusses what fueled Mahler's enormous ambitions as a composer.

Alan Gilbert — who begins his tenure as the Philharmonic's Music Director with this Opening Night Concert — talks about the unique sound he hopes to bring to the Orchestra this season; Composer-in-Residence Magnus Lindberg discusses the influences on his work, including EXPO, a World Premiere–New York Philharmonic Commission; and Elliott Forrest explores Berlioz's wildly evocative Symphonie fantastique and Messiaen's labor of love Poèmes pour Mi, featuring soprano Renée Fleming.

Lorin Maazel brings his tenure as Music Director of the New York Philharmonic to a grand finale with Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 8, featuring sopranos Christine Brewer, Nancy Gustafson, and Jeanine De Bique; mezzo-sopranos Mary Phillips and Nancy Maultsby; tenor Anthony Dean Griffey; bass Wolfgang Schöne; bass-baritone Jason Grant; the New York Choral Artists; The Dessoff Symphonic Choir; and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. Mr. Maazel discusses how he struggled to understand Mahler's work – eventually becoming enamored of it – and Ms. Gustafson reflects on the message of the work: that the power of love will triumph over evil.

Lorin Maazel, in his penultimate concerts as Music Director, talks about leading the New York Philharmonic in Sibelius's uplifting Second Symphony, as well as two of his own works – the march-like Monaco Fanfares and the apocalyptic symphonic movement Farewells.

Music Director Lorin Maazel talks about the message behind Britten's haunting War Requiem — with Lionel Bringuier conducting the chamber orchestra, and featuring soprano Nancy Gustafson, tenor Vale Rideout, baritone Ian Greenlaw, the New York Choral Artists, Dessoff Symphonic Choir, and Brooklyn Youth Chorus. Also, Ms. Gustafson discusses her emotional reaction when performing this work.