Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic Launch 2015-16 Season with Opening Gala Tonight

The New York Philharmonic's 2015-16 season reflects Music Director Alan Gilbert's and the organization's belief in the rich rewards of collaboration with artistic and institutional leaders, and in expanding the idea of what a symphony orchestra can be through a range of diverse programming and educational activities. Artistic partnerships will grow through enhanced curatorial influences, and national and international collaborations will continue to further cement the Orchestra's role as a resource in New York City and around the world.

Artistic positions created by Alan Gilbert at the beginning of his music directorship allow the Philharmonic to benefit from multiple perspectives; in the 2015-16 season the Philharmonic deepens its relationships with two of its artistic partners. The role of composer-conductor Esa- Pekka Salonen, The Marie-Jose?e Kravis Composer-in-Residence, now fuses performance and composition, and bass-baritone Eric Owens will broaden the role of The Mary and James G. Wallach Artist-in-Residence by curating a program; both artists will be represented in educational programs including the Philharmonic's famed Young People's Concerts. Pianist Daniil Trifonov becomes a prominent member of the Philharmonic family as the spotlighted artist in Rachmaninoff: A Philharmonic Festival, which explores the interpretation of a body of work through a single soloist collaborating with several conductors. Pianist Inon Barnatan returns for his second season as the inaugural Artist-in-Association. Throughout the season the Philharmonic will perform a variety of repertoire from the perspectives of today's leading artists and conductors.

The wide-ranging repertoire in the 2015-16 season includes THE ART OF THE SCORE: Film Week at the Philharmonic, returning for its third season with two complete Oscar-winning films; established masterworks; and new music, through the second NY PHIL BIENNIAL, CONTACT!, and premieres of compositions created through an ongoing commitment to commissioning new works.

The Orchestra's role as a national and international resource will evolve through the New York Philharmonic Global Academy partnerships with the Shanghai Orchestra Academy and Residency Partnership and the Music Academy of the West. The Philharmonic will also launch two major new partnerships: nationally, with the University Musical Society at the University of Michigan, in a performance and educational collaboration that includes co-commissioned and co-produced projects; and locally, with the Lincoln Center-New York Philharmonic Opera Initiative, a partnership that builds on the Philharmonic's acclaimed operatic productions that Alan Gilbert has spearheaded throughout his tenure.

"Over the six years I have been at the New York Philharmonic, I have sensed a steadily increasing connection with our audiences," Music Director Alan Gilbert said. "There is a palpable sense that we are positively affecting people's lives, and I am particularly proud of having earned the audience's trust in our decisions and direction, which has encouraged me to advance the projects that may have seemed risky to some when I first came here. The 2015-16 season reflects this confidence in our beliefs and our projects: we are presenting a fantastic array of music, from Mozart and Mahler to premieres and the second NY PHIL BIENNIAL, and I hope that audiences looking at our programming will say: 'Of course I want to hear the Philharmonic play The Rite of Spring or Das Lied von der Erde, but who is this composer? If Gilbert and the Philharmonic decided to play it, I will give it a try.'"

"I am honored to work with Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic's leadership team to make the Orchestra an impactful resource in New York City and globally through groundbreaking and inspiring performances," said President Matthew VanBesien. "It is incredibly gratifying to see the developments of the initiatives established at the beginning of

Alan's tenure, and I am excited about the diversity of programs Alan and the Orchestra's astoundingly talented musicians will perform in the 2015-16 season. The talent of the musicians and vision of our dedicated donors have made it possible for the New York Philharmonic to be among the world's most inventive artistic institutions."

"We are excited to present a season that truly illustrates the strides that Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic have made in reinventing what an orchestra can be," said Chairman Oscar S. Schafer. "The Board of Directors and I would like to thank Alan, the musicians, Matthew VanBesien, and the entire Philharmonic team, who work so hard to not only present great music, but also to be a platform for future masterworks. We also thank our generous supporters, who make it possible for the Philharmonic to inspire music lovers and future musicians around the world."

ALAN GILBERT AND THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC's 2015-16 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:

- OPENING GALA CONCERT of 174th Season To Feature BEETHOVEN's Symphony No. 7 & GRIEG's Piano Concerto with LANG LANG, Tonight, September 24

- ESA-PEKKA SALONEN Named The Marie-Jose?e Kravis Composer-in-Residence Through 2017-18 World Premiere on NY PHIL BIENNIAL; N.Y. Premieres of LA Variations & Karawane; Salonen Conducts Turangali?la-symphonie as Part of MESSIAEN WEEK, Also To Include Quartet for the End of Time at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Temple of Dendur in The Sackler Wing

- Bass-Baritone ERIC OWENS Named The Mary and James G. Wallach Artist-in-Residence Curating In Their Footsteps: Great African American Singers and Their Legacy; Strauss, Wagner & Mahler; Education Activities & "The Grinch"

- RACHMANINOFF: A Philharmonic Festival, with DANIIL TRIFONOV Pianist INON BARNATAN: Second Season as Inaugural Artist-in-Association

- ALAN GILBERT Conducts
World, U.S. & N.Y. Premieres by FRANCK KRAWCZYK, MAGNUS LINDBERG,
MARC NEIKRUG, PER NØRGA?RD & SALONEN
MAHLER's Das Lied von der Erde & Symphony No. 5; ALL-MOZART Program; SIBELIUS Works for 150th Birthday CARNEGIE HALL Concert with Works by LINDBERG, TCHAIKOVSKY & RAVEL

- NY PHIL BIENNIAL, May 31-June 11, 2016
New Partners Across the U.S.
World Premieres by SALONEN & WILLIAM BOLCOM; U.S. Premiere of PER NØRGA?RD's Symphony No. 3; U.S. Stage Premiere of GERALD BARRY's The Importance of Being Earnest at CONTACT!,
Part of New Lincoln Center-New York Philharmonic Opera Initiative

- THE ART OF THE SCORE: Film Week at the Philharmonic
Two Scores Performed Live with Complete Films: ON THE WATERFRONT & THE GODFATHER Alec Baldwin, Artistic Advisor

- New York Premiere of TAN DUN's Nu Shu: The Secret Songs of Women on Chinese New Year Concert and Gala

- Conducting Debuts by JUSTIN FREER, THOMAS WILKINS, CRISTIAN MA?CELARU,
JANE GLOVER & JOHN STORGA?RDS
JAMES GAFFIGAN's Subscription Debut with World Premiere of ANDREW NORMAN's Piano Concerto No. 2

- TOURS & RESIDENCIES
NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC GLOBAL ACADEMY
Second Annual Shanghai Residency; First New York Visit of Shanghai Orchestra Academy Students as Zarin Mehta Fellows Third Season of Music Academy of the West Partnership

- Launch of Partnership with UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY at the University of Michigan, October 9-11

Photo by Chris Lee.