Kurt Masur to Lead The New York Philharmonic May 12-15

Music Director Kurt Masur will conduct the New York Philharmonic in Beethoven's Symphony No. 1 and Bruckner's Symphony No. 7. Masur lead the Bruckner Seveth Symphony on his first program as the Philharmonic's Music Director in 1991 and ultimately conducted it 22 times during his 11-year tenure with the Orchestra.

Kurt Masur is well known to orchestras and audiences alike as both a distinguished conductor and humanist. In September 2002 he became music director of the Orchestre National de France in Paris. Effective with the beginning of the 2008-09 season he assumed the title of honorary music director for life of the Orchestre National de France, ensuring his close and acting invovment with that ensemble for many more years to come. From 200 to 2007 he was principal conductor of the London Philharmonic.

A professor at the Leipzig Academy of Music since 1975, Masur has received numberous honors, including the cross of the Order of Merits of the Federal Republic of Germany; the Gold Medal of Honor for Music from the National Arts Club; the totles of Commander of the Legion of Honor and new York City Cultural Honor from the French Government and New York City Cultural Ambassador from the City of New York.

Ludwig Van Beethovan's Symphony No. 1 was composed in 1799 and premiered in 1800 on a program that also included works by Haydn and Mozart.

Anton Bruckner aspired to great religious expression and succeeded as no composer before him in bringing together the spiritual and technical resources of the 19th-century synphony. His Symphony No. 7 was completed in 1883.

One hour before each performance Composter Joelle Wallach will introduce the program with a pre-concert talk. Tickets are $5 in addition to the concert ticket. Attendance is limited to 90 people. For more information go to www.nyphil.org or call (212) 875-5656

Performances will be Wednesday and Thursday May 12 and 13 at 7:30pm and Friday and Saturday May 14 and 15 at 8pm. Single tickets for performances are $31-$117 and are avaliable at www.nyphil.org, or at the Avery Fisher Hall Box Office, the Alice Tully Hall Box Office or by calling (212) 875-5656.