NY Philharmonic Announces 2015-16 Season of 'Insights at the Atrium'

The New York Philharmonic has announced the 2015-16 season's free Insights at the Atrium series. All held at the David Rubenstein Atrium and beginning at 7:30 p.m., these events combine discussion, often with live performance and video, to explore themes of the season.

Matthew Mugmon -- assistant professor of music at the Unviersity of Arizona whose research has focused on Mahler and Bernstein -- has been appointed The Leonard Bernstein Scholar- in-Residence at the New York Philharmonic. He will be featured in two Insights at the Atrium events: "Sibelius in New York: An Archival Exploration," a look at the composer's relationship with New York City focusing on materials found in the New York Philharmonic Archives, and "Discovering The Song of the Earth," featuring baritone (and former Leonard Bernstein Scholar- in-Residence) Thomas Hampson discussing Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde, which he is performing with the Orchestra in April 2016. Dr. Mugmon will also conduct research in the Philharmonic Archives and speak at Pre-Concert Insights.

- "Messiah: Then and Now," December 14, 2015
In advance of the Philharmonic's performances of Handel's Messiah, December 15-19, music historian Thomas Forrest Kelly revisits the premiere of Handel's Messiah, shedding light on what that audience would have expected, what surprised them, and what may have gone unnoticed that we find surprising today.

- "Sibelius in New York: An Archival Exploration," January 5, 2016
In recognition of the 150th anniversary of Jean Sibelius's birth, The Leonard Bernstein Scholar-in-Residence Matthew Mugmon explores the composer's relationship with New York City, with a special focus on materials found in the New York Philharmonic Archives. This event takes place in conjunction with several Philharmonic programs in the 2015-16 season honoring the 150th anniversary of Sibelius's birth through performances of his works.

- "Musicians Up Close, in Conversation and Performance," January 21, 2016
In this Lincoln Center Free Thursdays at the Atrium and Insights at the Atrium event, Musicians of the New York Philharmonic will give an intimate chamber performance and introduce themselves through a conversation led by WQXR's Jeff Spurgeon.

- Karawane and the Meaning of Music," March 15, 2016
The Marie-Jose?e Kravis Composer-in-Residence Esa-Pekka Salonen discusses Karawane, co-commissioned by the New York Philharmonic, which gives the work's New York Premiere March 17-19, 2016. This homage to Hugo Ball's poem Karawane and the spirit of Dada, the radical art movement founded 100 years ago, addresses the question of meaning in music.

- "Discovering The Song of the Earth," April 18, 2016
Having sung, recorded, researched, and lectured on Gustav Mahler and his music, baritone Thomas Hampson joins the Philharmonic's Leonard Bernstein Scholar-in- Residence Matthew Mugmon to discuss the earthly and ethereal qualities of Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde, which Mr. Hampson performs with the Philharmonic, alongside tenor Stefan Vinke, April 20-22, 2016.

For more information, visit nyphil.org/insights.

Photo Credit: Chris Lee