Matthew VanBesien News

Beginning with the 2013-14 season, the New York Philharmonic's Insights Series - in which artists and experts will explore some of the season's themes and concerts - will now be free, and take place at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center. This season's events will include discussions with Concertmaster Glenn Dicterow during his farewell season (TODAY, October 23); composer-conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen and violinist Leila Josefowicz (October 28), who will discuss Mr. Salonen's Violin Concerto, written for Ms. Josefowicz (which they will perform with the Philharmonic in its New York Concert Premiere, October 30-November 5); Music Director Alan Gilbert and Executive Director Matthew VanBesien on the state of the Philharmonic (March 3, 2014); The Mary and James G. Wallach Artist-in-Residence Yefim Bronfman (May 20, 2014), who will talk about Beethoven's piano concertos (which he will perform during The Beethoven Piano Concertos: A Philharmonic Festival, June 11-28, 2014); and discussions relating to the NY PHIL BIENNIAL, the details of which will be announced at a later date. All Insights Series events begin at 7:30 p.m.

The 2013-14 season of the New York Philharmonic's Insights Series - in which artists and experts explore some of the season's themes and concerts - will begin this month with two events. The series is free to the public throughout the season, and all events take place at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center (Columbus Avenue at 62nd Street) at 7:30 p.m.

Beginning with the 2013-14 season, the New York Philharmonic's Insights Series - in which artists and experts will explore some of the season's themes and concerts - will now be free, and take place at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center. This season's events will include discussions with Concertmaster Glenn Dicterow during his farewell season (October 23); composer-conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen and violinist Leila Josefowicz (October 28), who will discuss Mr. Salonen's Violin Concerto, written for Ms. Josefowicz (which they will perform with the Philharmonic in its New York Concert Premiere, October 30-November 5); Music Director Alan Gilbert and Executive Director Matthew VanBesien on the state of the Philharmonic (March 3, 2014); The Mary and James G. Wallach Artist-in-Residence Yefim Bronfman (May 20, 2014), who will talk about Beethoven's piano concertos (which he will perform during The Beethoven Piano Concertos: A Philharmonic Festival, June 11-28, 2014); and discussions relating to the NY PHIL BIENNIAL, the details of which will be announced at a later date.

The 2013 New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks, Presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer, will return for the 48th season with five free outdoor concerts, conducted by Music Director Alan Gilbert, in Prospect Park, Brooklyn (today, July 10); Cunningham Park, Queens (July 11); the Great Lawn in Central Park, Manhattan (July 13 and 15); and Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx (July 16). In addition, the New York Philharmonic Brass will give a Free Indoor Concert at the Center for the Arts, College of Staten Island, CUNY (July 14).

The New York Philharmonic is to be honored today with a 2012-13 ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, earning the Leonard Bernstein Award for Educational Programming, at the League of American Orchestras 68th National Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. The Philharmonic was selected for including in its 2012-13 season of educational programming works by contemporary composers Steven Stucky, Tristan Murail, Magnus Lindberg, and Wynton Marsalis as well as works by students from the Philharmonic's Credit Suisse Very Young Composers program.

From May 28 to June 7, 2014, the New York Philharmonic will present the inaugural NY PHIL BIENNIAL, a kaleidoscopic exploration of today's music by a wide range of contemporary and modern composers that will showcase an array of curatorial voices through concerts presented with partners in venues both on and off the Lincoln Center campus.

Today, May 14 at 2:00 p.m., EDT, medici.tv (www.medici.tv) will present a free live Webcast of the New York Philharmonic's concert of 20th- and 21st-century music at Volkswagen's Die Glaserne Manufaktur, or Transparent Factory, in Dresden, Germany, conducted by Music Director Alan Gilbert.

Over the weekend Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic performed in Istanbul, Turkey. The Orchestra's first appearance there in 18 years also offered an opportunity to catch some of the colorful capital's local flavor. Then the New York Philharmonic Principal Brass Quintet launched the return to Zurich - home of Credit Suisse, the Orchestra's Global Sponsor - with a free performance. Scroll down for photos from the philharmonic's trip overseas!

On Tuesday, May 14 at 2:00 p.m., EDT, medici.tv (www.medici.tv) will present a free live Webcast of the New York Philharmonic's concert of 20th- and 21st-century music at Volkswagen's Die Glaserne Manufaktur, or Transparent Factory, in Dresden, Germany, conducted by Music Director Alan Gilbert.

The 2013 New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks, Presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer, will return for the 48th season with five free outdoor concerts, conducted by Music Director Alan Gilbert, in Prospect Park, Brooklyn (July 10); Cunningham Park, Queens (July 11); the Great Lawn in Central Park, Manhattan (July 13 and 15); and Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx (July 16). In addition, the New York Philharmonic Brass will give a Free Indoor Concert at the Center for the Arts, College of Staten Island, CUNY (July 14).

The New York Philharmonic's 2013-14 season will be marked by an integration of ongoing artistic initiatives that have become hallmarks of Alan Gilbert's tenure as Music Director, alongside the introduction of new ideas that will advance the Orchestra and its role in the cultural life of New York City and the world.

New York Philharmonic Chairman Gary W. Parr and Executive Director Matthew VanBesien announced today the extension of Alan Gilbert's contract as Music Director through the 2016-17 season. Mr. Gilbert opened his tenure as Music Director on September 16, 2009, and has just begun his fourth season.

New York Philharmonic Board Member Oscar Schafer and his wife, Didi, have given a $1 million gift to the New York Philharmonic to support the free CONCERTS IN THE PARKS. This follows a $5 million gift the Schafers made in 2007 to the PARKS series, which has been renamed the NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC CONCERTS IN THE PARKS, presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer, in their honor.

New York Philharmonic Board Member and Radio Host Alec Baldwin has given a $1 million gift to the New York Philharmonic in honor of departing President and Executive Director Zarin Mehta, who is concluding his 12-year tenure at the end of the 2011-12 season.

Music Director Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic, America's oldest orchestra, came to Walt Disney Concert Hall in the final event of the LA Phil's 2011/12 Visiting Orchestras series, this Wednesday, May 9. Virtuoso pianist Yefim Bronfman joined the program, performing the West Coast premiere of Piano Concerto No. 2, by New York Philharmonic Composer-in-Residence Magnus Lindberg. Also on the program were Dvorak's Carnival Overture and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4. Though Gilbert had previously appeared at Walt Disney Concert Hall (WDCH), most recently during the 2006/07 season, the performance was the New York Philharmonic's WDCH debut. See below for photos from the orchestra's knock-out concert in Los Angeles!

Gary W. Parr, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the New York Philharmonic, today announced that Matthew VanBesien has been appointed the next Executive Director of The Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc