Jaap van Zweden concludes his tenure as music director of the New York Philharmonic with the 2023-24 season. Photo by Dario Acosta.
“With current music director Jaap van Zweden in town for two unusual and striking concert programs back to back–Messiaen’s ecstatic ‘Turangalîla-Symphonie’ last weekend, and Bach’s profound ‘St. Matthew Passion’ starting on Thursday–the Philharmonic has announced the details of its 2023-24 season, which will be van Zweden’s last,” writes Steve Smith in Tuesday’s (3/21) Gothamist. “Among the major projects announced today is the U.S. premiere of ‘Émigré,’ an oratorio by composer Aaron Zigman and librettist Mark Campbell. The work, which will be conducted by Long Yu … was jointly commissioned by the New York Philharmonic and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and was inspired by Shanghai providing refuge to Jews fleeing the Holocaust … Another substantial venture celebrates the 100th birthday of Hungarian composer and avant-garde icon György Ligeti … The orchestra will present new works by Steve Reich … and Joel Thompson … Further … contemporary music includes the U.S. premiere of ‘The Elements,’ a five-movement concerto for violinist Joshua Bell jointly composed by Jake Heggie, Jennifer Higdon, Edgar Meyer, Jessie Montgomery and Kevin Puts … the first U.S. performance of Bryce Dessner’s Concerto for Two Pianos … and commissions by Olga Neuwirth, Mary Kouyoumdjian and Melinda Wagner…. The Philharmonic will operate without a designated music director in 2024-25. Gustavo Dudamel will serve as music director-designate in 2025-26.”
