Park Avenue Chamber Symphony and Astrophysicist to Explore Sunrises at DiMenna Center

Already breaking new ground with InsideOut Experiences that seat audiences interspersed between the musicians of the orchestra, Park Avenue Chamber Symphony Music Director David Bernard is going one step further - taking the experience interstellar.

"Music has an almost infinite ability to capture audience's imagination, transporting them across time and space," says Maestro Bernard. "There is no better example of this phenomenon than the vivid depiction of a sunrise in Ravel's Daphnis and Chloe that starts our February 3rd InsideOut event." The orchestra will conclude the program with a performance of Brahms Symphony No. 2.

Bernard developed the InsideOut format to address a critical need in Classical Music concerts. "Audiences have evolved to demand more engaging experiences, requiring innovation on the part of performers and producers. Unfortunately, Classical Music has not kept up," says Bernard. "Every performance of a 90 piece symphony orchestra contains music making that can be an incredible experience for audiences, but only if we let them inside rather than keep them at a distance. Not even 'in the round' is enough - you have to bring them in!"

To further heighten the audience experience, the Orchestra's February 3rd event - "Good Morning and Good Night from the InsideOut" - will feature noted Astrophysicist Dr. Jackie Faherty, Senior Scientist in the Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History.

"I am absolutely thrilled to be joining Maestro Bernard and the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony for their innovative InsideOut event," says Dr. Faherty. "So much of my focus is on connecting the public with the wonder and beauty of science in meaningful ways. This opportunity to explore parallels between art and science through the beautiful process of sunrise and sunset is so important for our society."

Dr. Faherty will discuss the science of sunrises and sunsets with the audience just prior to each work, exploring the impact of these cosmic events on nature at each point in the process - something that is shown in great detail within Ravel's Daphnis and Chloe.

Dr. Faherty, recipient of the National Science Foundation International Research Fellowship and the NASA Hubble Fellowship, frequently appears as a lecturer at the Hayden Planetarium and is NYC's resident Astrophysicist designated to set the exact date and time for "Manhattanhenge" each year. "Mahattanhenge occurs when sunrise and sunset events are positioned to appear perfectly within the NYC street grid," says Dr. Faherty. "With the tall buildings and strong ambient light, NYC is not known as an ideal location for viewing astronomical events. Manhattanhenge is one of the most accessible events for NYC dwellers."

Touted by WQXR as "Transforming the Traditional Concert Experience" and by Stephanie Simon of NY1 as "Amazing," the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony's InsideOut Events have limited seating and sell out quickly.

David Bernard will lead the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony joined by Dr. Fahtery for "Good Morning and Good Night from the InsideOut" on Saturday February 3rd at Cary Hall in the DiMenna Center for Classical Music, 450 West 37th Street, between 9th and 10th avenues in NYC. The Full Experience event, designed for adults and older students, will be held at 5PM. Tickets for the Full Experience are available online HERE.

In addition, the Family Experience - an abridged version designed for Families with Children under 13 that also includes an Instrument Zoo after the event that allows children to try instruments - will be held earlier on Saturday, February 3rd at 2PM. Tickets for the Family Experience are available online HERE.