New York Philharmonic

14 Stories

NY Philharmonic Marks Historic Gender-Related Milestone

Women have made major gains in an industry still dominated by men

(Newser) - The New York Philharmonic marks a milestone this fall as it settles into a newly renovated David Geffen Hall: for the first time in its 180-year history, women will outnumber men onstage. Per the New York Times , the narrow differential—45 to 44—could be a temporary condition, as the...

New York Philharmonic Adds On-Demand Service

Large concerts were stopped last March

(Newser) - The New York Philharmonic launched an on-demand video and audio streaming service Monday called NYPhil+ that is available for $50 annually or $4.99 monthly. Initial selections include David Lang’s "Prisoner of the State" and Julia Wolfe’s "Fire in My Mouth," both with music director...

NY Philharmonic Performs 7th-Grader's Composition

Grace Moore took part in the Very Young Composers program

(Newser) - A Brooklyn composer has had the pleasure of hearing her music performed by the New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra—and she's in seventh grade. Grace Moore looked on as members of the orchestra premiered her original piece last month. The 12-year-old—who fell in love with music when her mother...

'Child Prodigy' Conductor Dies at 84
 'Child Prodigy' 
 Conductor Dies at 84 
OBITUARY
Jul 14, 2014 1:43 AM CDT

'Child Prodigy' Conductor Dies at 84

Lorin Maazel's glittering career spanned 75 years

(Newser) - The controversial but undeniably brilliant conductor Lorin Maazel has died at the age of 84—some 75 years after he began conducting orchestras as a 9-year-old child prodigy. Maazel, who conducted an average of two orchestras a week during his long career and performed with more than 200 orchestras, died...

Meet the Guy Whose Phone Stopped the Philharmonic


 Meet the Guy 
 Whose Phone 
 Stopped the 
 Philharmonic 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Jan 15, 2012 11:56 AM CST

Meet the Guy Whose Phone Stopped the Philharmonic

'Patron X' is very, very sorry

(Newser) - He is identified somewhat ominously as "Patron X" by the New York Philharmonic, the unlucky soul whose phone kept ringing during a performance this week and caused the conductor to stop the show. The New York Times has an interview with the 60-something businessman, who says he had no...

Ringtone Silences New York Philharmonic

It's a first in the cell-phone age

(Newser) - Usually, when something disturbs an orchestra performance, the New York Philharmonic's music director plays on. But an incessant iPhone ringtone during a concert this week forced Alan Gilbert to stop the show, the Wall Street Journal reports. The universally familiar "Marimba" tone kept playing during Mahler's 9th...

Chinese Virtuoso Conducts Assault on Glass Ceiling

Classical superstar Xian Zhang is young, energetic—and a woman

(Newser) - In the traditional world of classical music, no area has been less hospitable to women than the conductor’s platform. So it’s remarkable that one of the world’s hottest maestros is not just a woman, but a 35-year-old from China—Xian Zhang, associate conductor at the New York...

Muti to Lead Chicago Symphony
 Muti to Lead Chicago Symphony 
May 5, 2008 2:23 PM CDT

Muti to Lead Chicago Symphony

Italian personality had been pursued by NY orchestra, others

(Newser) - After four years of searching for a new music director, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra has finally found its man: Italian maestro Riccardo Muti. He will take over for the 2010-11 season on a five-year contract. In September, Muti rejected the idea of an American music directorship because of hefty administrative...

Dressed-Up Pyongyang Hid Grim Reality

N. Korean capital masked poverty for NY Philharmonic's visit

(Newser) - North Korea's capital was prettied up last month to show off the country's nonexistent prosperity to the New York Philharmonic and the accompanying press corps, the LA Times reports. The visitors to Pyongyang ate luxurious meals in newly painted hotels, but after they finished, the lights went out. "As...

Clapton Invited to Pyongyang
Clapton Invited to Pyongyang
Feb 27, 2008 11:41 AM CST

Clapton Invited to Pyongyang

North Korea invites old Slowhand for landmark concert

(Newser) - Kim Jong Il is a diehard Elvis fan, but the Great Leader's son is seriously into Eric Clapton, which could be why North Korea has invited Old Slowhand to play a concert in Pyongyang. Though the New York Philharmonic performed there yesterday, a Clapton appearance  would mark the first time...

Philharmonic Wows North Korea
Philharmonic Wows North Korea
Feb 26, 2008 7:16 AM CST

Philharmonic Wows North Korea

New York orchestra wins ovation after landmark performance

(Newser) - The New York Philharmonic received a huge ovation in Pyongyang tonight after a concert that marked the first thaw in cultural relations between the US and North Korea in 50 years. The performance—which included the countries' national anthems, a Korean folk song, and works by Gershwin, Dvorak, Wagner, and...

Are They Playing His Song?
Are They Playing His Song?
Feb 25, 2008 5:00 PM CST

Are They Playing His Song?

New York Philharmonic arrives in Pyongyang

(Newser) - As the New York Philharmonic arrived in Pyongyang today, Kim Jong-Il still hadn't indicated whether he would attend the orchestra's historic concert, Reuters reports. ”It's kind of a win-win for Kim Jong-Il,” says a scholar of North Korean propaganda, because the visit will likely be portrayed as a...

North Korea Preps for Visit From NY Philharmonic

Pyongyang tears down anti-US posters in lead-up to concert

(Newser) - Pyongyang may be shedding some of its anti-US propaganda in preparation for the New York Philharmonic's arrival tomorrow, but many worry Dvorak symphonies Tuesday for the elite will prove an ineffectual olive branch during a time of nuclear negotiations. Pshaw, an assistant secretary of state tells the LA Times: "...

NY Philharmonic to Play N. Korea
NY Philharmonic to Play N. Korea
Dec 10, 2007 9:01 AM CST

NY Philharmonic to Play N. Korea

Musical diplomacy may help, says ambassador

(Newser) - The New York Philharmonic plans a historic Pyongyang concert in February, giving Kim Jong Il occasion to dig out his fanciest tracksuit—and further defrosting US relations with the onetime axis of evil member. “We haven’t even had Ping-Pong diplomacy with these people,” said ambassador Christopher Hill....

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