In Wednesday’s (11/11) Newsday, Steve Sparks writes, “The Long Island Philharmonic throws its own birthday party Saturday, two days before the 30th anniversary of its inaugural concert—Nov. 16, 1979. Among those celebrating the occasion are 16 musicians who’ve been with the Philharmonic ever since and two of its original board members. Saturday also is opening night of the Philharmonic season—though it wasn’t planned that way. Due to ‘cash flow’ problems, the previously scheduled opener, featuring acclaimed soloist Joseph Kalichstein playing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, was moved to the end of the subscription season. Philharmonic executive director Stephen Belth says, ‘I’m as confident as one can be in uncertain times’ that those performances, June 19 and 20, will happen. The ‘Happy Birthday, Philharmonic’ concert includes a link to Long Island’s symphonic past. The soloist for Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 and Beethoven’s Fantasy for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra is Seymour Lipkin, music director of the Long Island Symphony when it deferred to the Philharmonic in 1979 after a 25-year run.”
Posted November 13, 2009
