Alan Gilbert to Conduct World Premiere of Christopher Rouse's THUNDERSTUCK, 8/9-14

Music Director Alan Gilbert will lead the New York Philharmonic in the World Premiere of Thunderstuck, a Philharmonic commission by The Marie-Josée Kravis Composer-in-Residence Christopher Rouse; Haydn's Symphony No. 103, Drumroll; and Brahms's Violin Concerto, featuring Lisa Batiashvili in her first appearance as The Mary and James G. Wallach Artist-in- Residence, Thursday, October 9, 2014, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, October 10 at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, October 11 at 8:00 p.m.; and Tuesday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Thunderstuck is the third Philharmonic-commissioned orchestral work by The Marie-Josée Kravis Composer-in-Residence Christopher Rouse, whose term has been extended for a third season, through 2014-15. The rock-inspired piece pays homage to some of Mr. Rouse's favorite artists from the 1960s and 1970s.

"In essence, Thunderstuck is a rock 'n' roll piece, and it's all in fun," Christopher Rouse said. "The bands from my younger days that I really love will be referenced, though most of the references will be twisted around to the point of being virtually unrecognizable. That's the fun part for me, sneaking these things in."

Also this season, the Philharmonic will perform the New York Premiere of Christopher Rouse's Flute Concerto, featuring Principal Flute Robert Langevin and led by Leonard Slatkin (October 30-31 and November 1, 2014), and Iscariot, led by David Zinman (February 5-7, 2015).

"Christopher Rouse has been truly great as our Marie-Josée Kravis Composer-in- Residence since he began in 2012," Alan Gilbert said. "There's a palpable connection between him and the Orchestra, and he has written pieces for us based on how that chemistry feels to him at the moment. It was natural to extend his term into a third season, as there's just simply more to do."

In these performances violinist Lisa Batiashvili will inaugurate her Philharmonic residency, which will include three orchestral appearances - featuring concertos by Brahms, Barber, and Bach as well as a U.S. Premiere-New York Philharmonic Co-Commission written for her by Thierry Escaich; an appearance on CONTACT!, the new-music series; and a recital, presented in association with Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, with pianist Paul Lewis. A friend of the Philharmonic, she made her debut in 2005 and has returned annually since Alan Gilbert became Music Director.

"The New York Philharmonic has become my favorite musical family," Lisa Batiasvhili said. "Working with Alan Gilbert is an amazing pleasure: he is one of the people I would love to work with my whole life. Whenever I play, he can guess everything that will come, which makes the life of a soloist much easier and more pleasant. I also feel so welcomed by this Orchestra and its audience, which is so open-minded, warm, and supportive."

"Lisa Batiashvili is beloved by our audiences and the Orchestra," Alan Gilbert said. "Her astounding technique makes her playing seem effortless, but her passionate and fierce approach to music imbues everything she does with a life and death quality. I've worked with her for more than ten years now, and we are very much on the same wavelength: things just fall into place in rehearsal and performance without our ever having to speak about them. It's a great chemistry. Hers is one of the great versions of the Brahms Violin Concerto, so it is the perfect way to start her residency."

"I also consider Haydn a particular friend," said Alan Gilbert, speaking of the second work on the program, Haydn's Symphony No. 103, Drumroll. "I love his music, and the Philharmonic musicians love playing it. He is so human - there's much in his music that you can really identify with, and he's a composer who really does have a sense of humor without being forced or trite. It's just profoundly funny, and it makes everybody smile."

The Saturday Matinee Concert October 11 at 2:00 p.m. features Christopher Rouse's Thunderstuck; Haydn's Symphony No. 103, Drumroll; and Dvo?ák's String Quartet in F major, American, with Philharmonic principal players: Acting Principal Associate Concertmaster Michelle Kim; Acting Principal, Second Violin Group, Lisa Kim; Associate Principal Viola Rebecca Young, and Associate Principal Cello Eileen Moon. Each of the concerts on this season's Saturday Matinee series features chamber music by Dvo?ák.

Tickets for these performances start at $32. Tickets for Open Rehearsals are $20. Pre-Concert Insights are $7; discounts are available for multiple talks, students, and groups (visit nyphil.org/preconcert for more information). 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. Saturday; and noon to 5:00 p.m. Sunday. Tickets may also be purchased at the Avery Fisher Hall Box Office. The Box Office opens at 10:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and at noon on Sunday. On performance evenings, the Box Office closes one-half hour after performance time; other evenings it closes at 6:00 p.m. A limited number of $16 tickets for select concerts may be available through the Internet for students within 10 days of the performance, or in person the day of. Valid identification is required. To determine ticket availability, call the Philharmonic's Customer Relations Department at (212) 875-5656. [Ticket prices subject to change.]