“Jaap van Zweden’s reign as music director of the New York Philharmonic came into clearer view on Tuesday, when the orchestra announced its 2019-20 season, its second under his baton,” writes Michael Cooper in Tuesday’s (2/5) New York Times. “There will be nods to the past, as in an exploration of Mahler’s time leading the Philharmonic in the final years of his life. There will be lots of new music, too, with Mr. van Zweden giving premieres by Philip Glass, Tania León, Nico Muhly, Sarah Kirkland Snider, Nina C. Young and Ellen Reid.” Other featured composers include Olga Neuwirth, Nicole Lizée, Unsuk Chin, Joan La Barbara, Paola Prestini, and Jörg Widmann. “There will be experiments—as when he conducts Renée Fleming in Björk songs. To mark the centennial of the 19th Amendment, which barred states from denying voting rights based on gender, the Philharmonic has commissioned new works by 19 female composers, eight of which will be performed next season” in an initiative called Project 19. “The pianist Daniil Trifonov will be the orchestra’s artist in residence…. The Philharmonic’s popular film series will offer screenings.” Bengt Gomer will direct a double-bill of Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle and Schoenberg’s Erwartung.
Posted February 7, 2019
