Brooklyn Philharmonic Announces Revised 2013 Season; Returns to BAM, June 8

The Brooklyn Philharmonic announced today that it is returning to the Brooklyn Academy Of Music (BAM) as part of a revised Spring season for the first time in three years.

On June 8, 2013, in a unique collaboration with four-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Erykah Badu, and actor and emcee Yasiin Bey (Mos Def), the Brooklyn Phil will bring ideas from hip-hop music into the symphonic world at BAM's Howard Gilman Opera House in the 2012-2013 season's headlining event You're Causing Quite a Disturbance.

Badu will collaborate with Brooklyn composer TEd Hearne on a new symphonic work that interconnects colorful and original arrangements of Badu's songs with original music that delves into their musical, social, and political ideas.

The June 8 concert at BAM is the centerpiece of a revised Spring season that replaces the one announced in September. The orchestra's community outreach throughout the borough will continue, however concerts at the Millennium Theater in Brighton Beach and at Roulette in Downtown Brooklyn are being cancelled.

"We are delighted to be returning to BAM, Brooklyn's signature concert hall and the Brooklyn Phil's venue of choice for this very 'Brooklyn' event," said Jack Rainey, Chairman of the Brooklyn Philharmonic Board of Directors. "The strength of our community relationships in Bedford-Stuyvesant and throughout the Borough have made this signature moment possible."

Erykah Badu is Brooklyn Phil's second Artist-in-Residence, continuing a tradition that began with Yasiin Bey (Mos Def), 2011-2012 Artist-in-Residence, during the orchestra's debut "reboot" season under newly appointed Artistic Director Alan Pierson.

Says Pierson: "It's been amazing to delve into Brooklyn's culture with the Brooklyn Phil and with all of our community partners and collaborators. Erykah and Yasiin are doing deep and meaningful work here, and the opportunity to bring them together with great local artists like TEd Hearne and Derek Bermel to create something original for the orchestra is incredibly exciting."

Each Brooklyn Phil neighborhood series-Brighton Beach, Downtown Brooklyn, and Bed-Stuy-is inspired by the cultural traditions and musical history of the communities. Preceding the June 8 show at BAM, students from Bed-Stuy will be invited to have the unique opportunity to see Pierson as he rehearses the orchestra with Erykah Badu and Yasiin Bey (Bey was born and raised in Bed-Stuy) in readiness for You're Causing Quite a Disturbance. Repertoire will include arrangements of songs from Erykah Badu's New Amerykah Part One: 4th World War and other works.

In addition, this Spring the Brooklyn Phil introduces a new initiative called Insider Tours. These are neighborhood-specific events that expose attendees to the wealth of creative, imaginative and entrepreneurial spirits within the communities of Bed-Stuy, Brighton Beach and Downtown Brooklyn.

Scroll down for more details on the Brooklyn Phil's revised 2013 season!

THE DOWNTOWN SERIES

Chamber Concert
FROM IMPORTER TO EXPORTER:
TWO CENTURIES OF MUSIC IN BROOKLYN
Wednesday, February 6, 2013, 7:00 pm
S. Stevan Dweck Center for Contemporary Culture
Brooklyn Public Library Central Library
10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY 11238
Free

One hundred years ago, the sophistication and scope of musical life in Brooklyn were great enough to place the city at the forefront of musical progress in America. The archives of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reveal the borough's importance in connection with Europe's classical music scene, with frequent visits and performances by European violin virtuosos including Ysaye, Kreisler, Elman and Kubelik.

This violin recital by Brooklyn Phil concertmaster Deborah Buck takes one back to these historic concerts through performances of violin showpieces that were all the rage in the borough at the turn of the century. Joining Ms.Buck onstage will be pianist Molly Morkoski and music historian Maurice Edwards, author of How Music Grew in Brooklyn, who will tell the story of Brooklyn's evolution from leading importer of musical expertise to the home-grown creative hotbed it is today. This performance will be followed by a post-concert Q&A with Maurice Edwards.

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