Alan Gilbert to Lead New York Philharmonic's Tribute to Kurt Masur, 5/30

Music Director Alan Gilbert will lead the New York Philharmonic in a Tribute to Kurt Masur, taking place at the 25th Annual Free Memorial Day Concert, a tradition inaugurated in 1992 by the late Music Director Emeritus Kurt Masur (1927-2015) as a gift to the people of New York City. The concert will feature a performance of Brahms's Symphony No. 2, as well as addresses from Music Director Alan Gilbert; trumpet player and Jazz at Lincoln Center artistic and managing director Wynton Marsalis, who will also perform; and baritone Thomas Hampson, who will also perform. The free concert will take place on Monday, May 30, 2016, at 8:00 p.m. at The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine.

Masur initiated the long-standing collaboration between the Philharmonic and Wynton Marsalis, including commissioning All Rise, which Masur led in its World Premiere in December 1999. The Philharmonic's partnership with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra has since continued, notably with Alan Gilbert leading the U.S. Premiere-Philharmonic Co-Commission of Mr. Marsalis's Swing Symphony (Symphony No. 3) on Opening Night 2010 and in June 2013, and he will lead the Orchestra in a World Premiere by Wynton Marsalis in the 2016-17 season, launching The New York Commissions. Thomas Hampson made his Philharmonic subscription debut on Masur's opening night as Music Director, in September 1991. He also performed in Brahms's A German Requiem, led by Kurt Masur on September 20, 2001, in memory of the victims of September 11. Thomas Hampson was the inaugural Mary and James G. Wallach Artist-in-Residence, a position Alan Gilbert introduced in his first season as Music Director; Mr. Hampson will again perform with Alan Gilbert and the Philharmonic in April 2016, performing Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde alongside tenor Stefan Vinke. During his Philharmonic tenure, Masur led acclaimed performances of Brahms's symphonic cycle in concert and recordings.

"Kurt Masur's years at the New York Philharmonic represent one of its golden eras, in which music-making was infused with commitment and devotion - with the belief in the power of music to bring humanity closer together," Music Director Alan Gilbert said. "The ethical and moral dimensions that he brought to his conducting are still palpable in the musicians' playing, and I, along with the Philharmonic's audiences, have much to thank him for. I will always be grateful for the support he gave me starting long ago when I was a student. I will miss him deeply."

Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the performance; ticket distribution will begin at 6:00 p.m. The audio of the performance will be broadcast onto the adjacent Pulpit Green, weather permitting. The program will be presented without intermission.

Alan Gilbert has led the Annual Free Memorial Day Concert each year since becoming Music Director in the 2009-10 season.

Photo: Chris Lee