Closing Concert
Wednesday, October 23, 2002 20:00
Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium
380
| Programme: | |
| Beethoven | Leonore Overture in C Major, op. 138 |
| Debussy | La Mer |
| Tchaikovsky | Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, op. 64 |
Conductor: Lorin Maazel
Founded in 1842 by a group of local musicians led by American-born Ureli Corelli Hill, the New York Philharmonic is by far the oldest symphony orchestra in the United States and one of the oldest in the world. In 2002-2003, the Philharmonic will celebrate its 160th Anniversary. Currently, the Orchestra plays some 150 concerts a year. On February 18, 1999, the Philharmonic gave its 13,000th concert—a milestone unmatched by any other orchestra in the world.
Since its inception, the Orchestra has championed the new music of its time, giving the first performances of many important works, such as Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World,” and Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the composer at the keyboard and many other works now in the standard repertoire.
The roster of composers and conductors who have led the Philharmonic includes historic figures such as Anton Rubinstein, Tchaikovsky, Dvořák, Weingartner, Mahler, Richard Strauss, Willem Mengelberg, Furtwängler, Toscanini, Stravinsky, Bruno Walter, Dimitri Mitropoulos, and Leonard Bernstein. Soloists who have performed with the Orchestra include the great instrumentalists and singers of many generations. The Orchestra has performed in approximately 356 cities in 52 countries on five continents.
Recordings of the Philharmonic are available on major labels. In 1997 the Philharmonic launched its own award-winning record label, New York Philharmonic Special Editions™.
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Lorin Maazel |
Lorin Maazel has led more than 150 orchestras in more than 5,000 opera and concert performances in the last half-century, appearing regularly at prestigious concert halls and opera houses around the world. Currently music director of the Bavarian Radio Orchestra, Maazel will succeed Kurt Masur as Music Director of the New York Philharmonic beginning with the start of the 2002-2003 season. Maestro Maazel, also an accomplished violinist and composer, has conducted throughout Europe, Australia, North and South America, Japan, the former Soviet Union, at most international festivals and opera houses, including Salzburg, Edinburgh, and Lucerne, the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Paris Opera, and Covent Garden, and has appeared with all the major symphony orchestras. He has conducted numerous New Year’s concerts from Vienna, as well as the filmed productions of Don Giovanni and Carmen. On August 5, 2001, he celebrated his 100th appearance at the Salzburg Festival, where he directed two Verdi operas, Don Carlo and Falstaff.
Running time: approx 2 hours, inc. one interval