In Wednesday’s (6/29) New York Times, Anthony Tommasini writes, “Of all the milestones in Alan Gilbert’s career, including his first program as music director of the New York Philharmonic in September 2009, no performance made him more visibly excited than the concert he conducted with the Philharmonic in Central Park on a balmy summer night in 2008. … Mr. Gilbert understands in a directly personal way why these free concerts, which the orchestra has presented since 1965, mean so much to New Yorkers and do so much to demystify classical music. … So it is surprising that he is on board with the Philharmonic’s disappointing decision to cancel the parks tour this summer. … With orchestras across America buckling under challenges from the poor economy, it is more crucial than ever to entice new audiences. This would seem the worst time to forgo what has become a beloved New York summer ritual. … Zarin Mehta, the Philharmonic’s president and chief executive, was quoted as saying that the parks tour was stopped to make way for other projects, including a memorial concert to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11. … Mr. Mehta emphasized that [free parks concerts] would return in 2012.”
Posted June 29, 2011
