New York Philharmonic Launches ALAN GILBERT: THE INAUGURAL SEASON iTunes Pass; Celebration Performance 11/30

The New York Philharmonic today launched Alan Gilbert: The Inaugural Season iTunes Pass, a groundbreaking new digital music series available exclusively on the iTunes Store.

The Alan Gilbert: The Inaugural Season iTunes Pass will allow users to own live New York Philharmonic concert recordings of more than 50 works performed during 2009-10 - Alan Gilbert's inaugural season as Music Director - each released within weeks of the actual concert, as well as additional recordings of concerts from recent seasons and other bonus content, for more than 30 total hours of music. Users will automatically receive music downloads on a regular basis each month through August 2010 for a one-time price of $150.

The New York Philharmonic is the first orchestra with an iTunes Pass, and Alan Gilbert: The Inaugural Season is the first classical music iTunes Pass offered by iTunes. The series launches with six releases that include works from the first severAl Weeks of the New York Philharmonic's 2009-10 season under Alan Gilbert, representing the rich range of repertoire that has become a trademark of Mr. Gilbert's leadership.

In celebration of the launch of Alan Gilbert: The Inaugural Season iTunes Pass, the New York Philharmonic Principal Brass Quintet will give a free performance tonight at 7:00 p.m. in the newly-opened Apple Store, Upper West Side (1981 Broadway, on the corner of West 67th Street).

"I am very pleased that we are already launching my first recording project with the Orchestra, especially since it utilizes such a forward-looking mechanism," said Philharmonic Music Director Alan Gilbert. "I am proud of the sound quality we've achieved in this series. More importantly, I am really pleased with the range of music that we'll be making available and of the quality of the Orchestra's performances. It is a remarkable achievement - one of which everyone involved can be proud."

"Alan Gilbert: The Inaugural Season will allow more listeners around the world to experience the passion and power of the New York Philharmonic's performances as we begin the tenure of a new and inspiring Music Director, and a vast range of the orchestral repertoire," said Zarin Mehta, President and Executive Director of the New York Philharmonic. "To reach the widest possible public, we have been seeking out ways to benefit from the newest methods of recording technology and distribution, and the iTunes Pass makes it possible for us to offer music on a scale that seemed unimaginable until just recently."

Recordings available at launch include performances from the first severAl Weeks of Alan Gilbert's inaugural season that reflect the range of his interests and his passion both for embracing the new and for revitalizing the canon. The works include EXPO by Magnus Lindberg, the Philharmonic's Marie Josée Kravis Composer-in-Residence (premiered on the Opening Night of the 2009-10 season); Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique; Mahler's Symphony No. 3; Schoenberg's Pelleas and Melisande; Charles Ives's Symphony No. 2; Brahms's Violin Concerto with Frank Peter Zimmermann; Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 with Emanuel Ax; and more. Also available at the launch are works recorded during the Philharmonic's historic concerts in Hanoi, Vietnam, led by Alan Gilbert, from October 2009, as well as bonus content from prior seasons, such as selections from Handel's Messiah, conducted by Mr. Gilbert in 2004. (See complete December release schedule below). Subsequent releases will include upcoming performances from the New York Philharmonic's 2009-10 season, including New York Philharmonic commissions and performances by guest conductors and soloists such as baritone Thomas Hampson, The Mary and James G. Wallach Artist-in-Residence, and many others. Recording releases for January-August 2010 will be announced at a later time.

Alan Gilbert: The Inaugural Season will be produced and distributed by the New York Philharmonic, and was created in collaboration with IODA, the Philharmonic's digital recordings technology partner and a leading independent digital distributor of classical music. iTunes Pass buyers will receive digital liner notes for each release, and bonus content such as Alan Gilbert's commentary from the stage, as well as lectures and talks by scholars and performers.

With iTunes Pass, fans get music and other content from their favorite artists delivered directly to their iTunes library as it becomes available over a season, tour or other set period of time. iTunes Pass buyers will receive an e-mail notification when new content is available, and new items will automatically be delivered to their iTunes music library. All iTunes music is delivered in the iTunes Plus format, which features the highest quality 256 Kbps AAC encoding with no DRM (Digital Rights Management). When an iTunes Pass is purchased, at any time, users immediately receive all previously released items in the Pass, and new items will be automatically delivered the moment they are available.

IODA, the Independent Online Distribution Alliance, is one of the industry-leading digital distribution companies for the global independent music and video community. IODA provides comprehensive services to record labels, physical distributors, artists, and filmmakers, including license negotiations; media encoding and metadata management; royalty payment administration and reporting; and marketing and promotional support. Founded in 2003, IODA represents a rapidly expanding roster of more than two million music tracks and over 2000 independent film and video titles. IODA distributes its music and video catalog to hundreds of digital storefronts worldwide, including all major digital music services like iTunes®, Amazon MP3 and MySpace Music and mobile carriers and outlets such as Verizon Wireless, Sprint, and Nokia. The company's Website is www.iodalliance.com.

The New York Philharmonic, a longtime media pioneer, was the first major American orchestra to offer downloadable concerts, recorded live, in 2004. Since 1917 the Philharmonic has made nearly 2,000 recordings, with more than 500 currently available. The Philharmonic began radio broadcasts in 1922, and is currently represented by The New York Philharmonic This Week - syndicated nationally 52 weeks per year, and available on nyphil.org and Sirius XM Radio. On television, in the 1950s and '60s, the Philharmonic inspired a generation through Bernstein's Young People's Concerts on CBS. Its television presence has continued with annual appearances on Live From Lincoln Center on PBS, and in 2003 it made history as the first Orchestra ever to perform live on the Grammy awards, one of the most-watched television events worldwide.

Credit Suisse is the Global Sponsor of the New York Philharmonic. Major funding for this recording is provided to the New York Philharmonic by Rita E. and Gustave M. Hauser. Programs of the New York Philharmonic are supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Visit nyphil.org/itunes to purchase the Alan Gilbert: The Inaugural Season iTunes Pass. Pass purchasers will receive an e-mail notification whenever new content is available. When an iTunes Pass is purchased, at any time, users immediately receive all previously released items in the Pass, and new items will be automatically delivered the moment they are available.

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