Magnus Lindberg's Violin Concerto No. 2 With Frank Peter Zimmermann Set for New York Philharmonic

Music Director Alan Gilbert will conduct the New York Philharmonic in the U.S. Premiere of Magnus Lindberg's Violin Concerto No. 2 - a New York Philharmonic co-commission with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic, and Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra- written for and performed by Frank Peter Zimmermann; Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring; and Respighi's Church Windows, Thursday, January 14, 2016, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, January 15 at 11:00 a.m.; and Saturday, January 16 at 8:00 p.m.

Finnish composer Magnus Lindberg served as the inaugural Marie-Josée Kravis Composer-in- Residence for three seasons, from 2009 to 2012. During the 2011-12 season violinist Frank Peter Zimmermann was The Mary and James G. Wallach Artist-in-Residence, overlapping with Mr. Lindberg's tenure as Composer-in-Residence.

"How do you approach the violin concerto of today? It's the king of the instruments and you have to cope with the amazing repertoire of great concertos we have, from Bach up until today. The tone of my Second Violin Concerto will be bold, like the 20th-century classics by Prokofiev or Bartók, with the soloist in dialogue with a richly colored orchestra," Magnus Lindberg said. "It's a luxury to write for virtuoso artists like Frank Peter, the New York Philharmonic, and Alan: you can let it flourish without having to be careful. Frank Peter was always a friend, and now, meeting with him around this project - it felt like working with a brother."

Earlier this season, in October 2015, Music Director Alan Gilbert led the Philharmonic in the World Premiere of Magnus Lindberg's Vivo at Carnegie Hall's Opening Night Gala Concert, launching the Hall's 125th anniversary season. During Magnus Lindberg's tenure as Philharmonic Composer-in-Residence, Alan Gilbert led the Orchestra in the World Premieres of the composer's EXPO (2009, Philharmonic commission), Al largo (2010, Philharmonic commission), Souvenir (in memoriam Gérard Grisey) (2010 on CONTACT!, Philharmonic commission), and Piano Concerto No. 2 (2012, Philharmonic commission, performed by Yefim Bronfman); the U.S. Premiere of his Clarinet Concerto (2010, with Kari Kriikku at Carnegie Hall); the New York Premiere of Kraft (2010, followed by a 2013 reprise of the work at Volkswagen's Transparent Factory in Dresden, Germany); and Arena (2010), Gran Duo (2011), and Feria (2012).