In Wednesday’s (5/31) New York Times, Anthony Tommasini assesses Alan Gilbert’s impact as music director of the New York Philharmonic; he steps down from the post in June. “It’s crucial, Gilbert said, for a major performing arts institution to work outside its comfort zone and ‘think outside the box,’ though he added that he dislikes that often-heard phrase: Mr. Gilbert prefers to strive for ‘a bigger box.’ Boldly stepping into that bigger box, Mr. Gilbert has expanded the mind-set of the Philharmonic—the major legacy of his tenure. His artistic priorities now seem embedded in the orchestra’s identity. It must champion contemporary music. It must foster associations with living composers and maintain the composer-in-residence position that Mr. Gilbert re-established (Esa-Pekka Salonen is now in his second year). It must continue to appoint dynamic performers as artists in residence and give them a say in programming. It must regularly leave Lincoln Center to perform unusual programs in spaces large and small … The way he commemorated the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks was perfect: He led a free performance of Mahler’s great “Resurrection” Symphony.… The ovation went on for 10 minutes.” A separate article by Michael Cooper also looks at Gilbert’s Philharmonic legacy.
In photo: In September 2011 at Avery Fisher Hall, Alan Gilbert led the New York Philharmonic and New York Choral Artists in a free concert commemorating the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Live video showed the concert on Lincoln Center Plaza. Photo: Hiroyuki Ito.
Posted May 31, 2017
