In advance of the New York Philharmonic’s performances next week of Honegger’s oratorio Jeanne d’arc au bûcher (Joan of Arc at the Stake) with actress Marion Cotillard in the title role, the orchestra has posted a YouTube video in which it asks New Yorkers to share names of “fierce females” in their lives. Among the responses: Amelia Earhart, Maya Angelou, Gloria Steinem, Wonder Woman, Furiosa (from the recently released Mad Max), Robin Wright’s character in the TV series House of Cards, singer/songwriter Erykah Badu, Hillary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, Queen Latifah, “my wife,” “my mother,” and “every woman in New York.” The orchestra invites further nominations via social media with the hashtag #nypfierce. The orchestra also created a BuzzFeed quiz: “Which famous fierce female are you?” Alan Gilbert will lead the Philharmonic’s performances of Jeanne d’arc from June 10 to 13 at Avery Fisher Hall, directed by Côme de Bellescize and featuring vocal soloists and singers from New York Choral Artists and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus.
Posted June 4, 2015
