New York Philharmonic and Alan Gilbert Launch the Inaugural NY PHIL BIENNIAL, 5/28-6/7

From May 28 to June 7, 2014, the New York Philharmonic will present the inaugural NY PHIL BIENNIAL, a kaleidoscopic exploration of today's music by a wide range of composers through

concerts presented with cultural partners in venues across New York City. As envisioned and curated by Music Director Alan Gilbert, the NY PHIL BIENNIAL will immerse the city in contemporary and modern music for 11 days, and will feature a range of concerts and events representing an international roster of more than 50 composers, ranging from students to legends. Mr. Gilbert's curatorial collaborators in planning the NY PHIL BIENNIAL include The Marie- Jose?e Kravis Composer-in-Residence Christopher Rouse, composer/conductor Matthias Pintscher, and conductor Pablo Heras-Casado. Many of the works to be performed will receive their World, U.S., or New York Premieres.

A flagship project of the New York Philharmonic that will recur every two years, the NY PHIL BIENNIAL is modeled on visual art biennial events, and, as such, has brought together the forces of several New York City cultural institutions to create events in varied venues that will engender a citywide festival atmosphere. Partners include 92nd Street Y, The Museum of Modern Art, Orchestra of St. Luke's, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Juilliard School, Gotham Chamber Opera, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Bang on a Can, American Composers Orchestra, and Kaufman Music Center's Special Music School High School.

The NY PHIL BIENNIAL is designed to create a cumulative experience for the audience. A Biennial Pass will facilitate entry into multiple events throughout the 11-day experience. Meet- up events, lectures and panel discussions, stage chats, and online interactivity are planned to encourage audience members to directly engage with composers, scholars, and artists.

"We want the NY PHIL BIENNIAL to galvanize the whole city around an immersive contemporary music experience - to take a snapshot of where music is today," said Music Director Alan Gilbert. "We have followed the lead of the great visual art biennial events in making this project extremely collaborative, and have reached out to a variety of curatorial voices, as well as the many other imaginative and forward-looking New York cultural organizations who have accepted our invitation to 'come play with us' as partners. We see each of the 13 programs as a distinct 'pavilion,' with partners bringing to them their individual aesthetics. Our approach is deliberately non-dogmatic, with the only criterion being that these concerts comprise music that we and our colleagues believe in and are excited to experience."

"The New York Philharmonic is proud to spearhead the NY PHIL BIENNIAL," said New York Philharmonic Executive Director Matthew VanBesien. "A manifestation of Alan Gilbert's aspirations and vision, with the combined resources of our colleague institutions, the NY PHIL BIENNIAL will provide an unprecedented opportunity for everyone in our community to immerse themselves in contemporary music. As an orchestra embracing the 21st century, the Philharmonic has the privilege as well as responsibility to inspire the public with fresh and innovative ways to look at the world we live in through the lens of great art - and to do so in the most engaging way possible, which is why we have said to audiences from New York and beyond, 'Let's play!'"

NEWLY ADDED: Insights Series Panel Discussions with Alan Gilbert and Composers, and NY PHIL BIENNIAL Play Dates: Post-Concert Meet-Ups with Composers and Artists

An integral part of the NY PHIL BIENNIAL experience will be interaction among artists, composers, and audience, and the New York Philharmonic has announced a range of events and activities to engender an ongoing dialogue.

Insights Series

The New York Philharmonic and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts will co-present two free discussions related to the NY PHIL BIENNIAL as part of the Philharmonic's Insights Series. Music Director Alan Gilbert will join curators from the Whitney Biennial and the Venice Biennale - including Massimiliano Gioni, artistic director of the 2013 Venice Biennale - and other curators and cultural leaders from the visual and performing arts to explore the nature, essence, and impact of biennials in the Insights Series event "What Is a Biennial?" on June 2, 2014, at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center.

A panel of composers from across the musical spectrum, some of whose music will be featured during the NY PHIL BIENNIAL - The Marie-Jose?e Kravis Composer-in-Residence Christopher Rouse; composer/conductor Matthias Pintscher; Kravis Emerging Composer Sean Shepherd; composer Julia Wolfe; and composer and senior editor of NewMusicBox Frank J. Oteri - will discuss what they consider to be this century's emerging masterworks. Carol J. Oja, The Leonard Bernstein Scholar-in-Residence at the New York Philharmonic, will moderate the discussion, "21st-Century Landmarks," June 4, 2014, at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center.

NY PHIL BIENNIAL Play Dates and Bar Biennial

All audience members attending select NY PHIL BIENNIAL concerts will be invited to NY PHIL BIENNIAL Play Dates, post-concert meet-ups where they can mingle with composers and performers. Play Dates following Avery Fisher Hall concerts will take place at Bar Biennial, open for the duration of the NY PHIL BIENNIAL in the lobby of Avery Fisher Hall. Play Dates will take place after the following concerts:

? May 30 at Avery Fisher Hall, Bar Biennial

? June 3 at SubCulture

? June 6 at Avery Fisher Hall, Bar Biennial

? June 7 at Avery Fisher Hall, Bar Biennial

Biennial Pass holders will be entitled to two free beverages redeemable at these Play Dates. Additional details about Play Dates will be announced.

Broadcasts

Highlights from select NY PHIL BIENNIAL concerts will be broadcast on WFMT's nationally syndicated new-music program Relevant Tones, available at blogs.wfmt.com/relevanttones, and posted for on-demand streaming by Q2 Music, WQXR's online stream dedicated to contemporary music, available at wqxr.org/q2music. The first Relevant Tones broadcast will feature selections from the Beyond Recall program and will air on Saturday, May 31 at 7:00 p.m. Relevant Tones will air two other broadcasts featuring highlights from the NY PHIL BIENNIAL on Wednesday, July 2 at 7:00 p.m. and Wednesday, July 9 at 7:00 p.m. Q2 broadcast dates and times will be announced at a later date.

Kameramusik

The New York Philharmonic Archives will present Kameramusik, an electronic media/photography installation by visual artist Anneliese Varaldiev, which features portraits of living composers whose work is being presented at the NY PHIL BIENNIAL. The installation will be on display May 28-June 7 in the Bruno Walter Gallery on Avery Fisher Hall's Grand Promenade and will be open to ticket holders.

Anneliese Varaldiev's work has been shown widely in the United States and Europe, including recent exhibits in the 55th Venice Biennale and at the Museum Folkwang in Essen, Germany. Her photographs are in the permanent collections of The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, and the Cine?mathe?que franc?aise, among others.

Biennial Pass

Concertgoers can purchase a Biennial Pass for admission to all NY PHIL BIENNIAL programs as well as two free beverages redeemable at Play Dates. Biennial Passes are $95 each and are available by calling 212-875-5656.

Tickets

Tickets for NY PHIL BIENNIAL concerts sold by the New York Philharmonic start at $20. Free concerts include American Composers Orchestra's Underwood New Music Readings, June 6-7, and Kaufman Music Center's Special Music School High School program on June 1. Biennial Passes are $95 each and are available by calling 212-875-5656. All tickets may be purchased online at nyphil.org or by calling (212) 875-5656, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. To determine ticket availability, call the Philharmonic's Customer Relations Department at (212) 875-5656. Ticket prices subject to change. For more information about all NY PHIL BIENNIAL events, visit nyphil.org/biennial.