In the September issue of The Brooklyn Rail (New York), George Grella writes, “The biggest news about music in Brooklyn this year didn’t come out of Williamsburg, BAM, or the banks of the Gowanus Canal. The source was the offices of the moribund Brooklyn Philharmonic, which announced the appointment of Alan Pierson as its next artistic director. … Crippled by lack of money, the orchestra had cancelled its entire previous season. … Now, Pierson’s appointment has revived interest and excitement around the orchestra itself. Pierson is a talented and accomplished conductor, as leader of two of the foremost new music ensembles, Alarm Will Sound (he’s a founding member) and Dublin’s Crash Ensemble. He’s also one of the most innovative concert programmers around. … His plan for his first season is unique: three series, each comprised of three components—an orchestra concert, a chamber performance, and a community event—presented in three different Brooklyn neighborhoods.” In an interview with Grella, Pierson comments, “It’s the idea of really trying to connect with the communities in an interesting way. … In most orchestras, community concerts and pops concerts occupy a second tier. Part of what I’m trying to do is make community concerts first-tier, and—not pops concerts—have them approaching the level of integrity and artistic seriousness that most orchestras reserve for their subscription season.”
Posted September 8, 2011
