NY Philharmonic Performs Magnus Lindberg's Kraft, 10/7, 8 & 12

The New York Philharmonic, led by Music Director Alan Gilbert, will perform the New York Premiere of the groundbreaking, theatrical Kraft, by Magnus Lindberg, the Orchestra's Marie-Josée Kravis Composer-in-Residence, Thursday, October 7, 2010, at 7:30 p.m., Friday, October 8, at 8:00 p.m., and Tuesday, October 12, at 7:30 p.m. The program will also include Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun and Sibelius's Violin Concerto, with Joshua Bell as soloist.

Single tickets for the October 6 concert start at $44. Tickets for the concerts on October 7-8 and 12 start at $40. Tickets for Open Rehearsals are $18. All tickets may be purchased online at nyphil.org or by calling (212) 875-5656, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets may also be purchased at the Avery Fisher Hall Box Office or the Alice Tully Hall Box Office at Lincoln Center, Broadway at 65th Street. 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 $12.50 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.

Kraft, which is receiving its first indoor performance in the United States, is one of Magnus Lindberg's landmark compositions, employing a mammoth orchestra, unusual instruments, soloists, and groups of musicians placed around the hall. A study of rhythmic interpolations, it marked the beginning of Mr. Lindberg's use of the computer as a tool to assist composition, and he spent two years - one of which he devoted to designing the program he used to create the complex rhythmic and harmonic transformations - composing the massive work, which is divided into two large movements, followed by a relatively long coda. Kraft's ensemble of soloists is the cornerstone of the orchestra, the catalyst for action, and the center of its huge mass of sound.

The performance will feature Mr. Lindberg at the piano in his Philharmonic piano debut; clarinetist Chen Halevi (debut) - who will play the E-flat, B-flat, bass, and contra-bass clarinets; Principal Cello Carter Brey; Principal Timpani Markus Rhoten; Principal Percussion Christopher S. Lamb and Associate Principal Percussion Daniel Druckman - who will play found objects and percussive instruments built out of scrap metal, in addition to their traditional instruments; and Juhani Liimatainen, electronics (debut).

A sampling of instruments employed in Kraft, in addition to the Orchestra, includes bongos, congas, alm glocken, tamtam, sleigh bells, vibraphone, wood blocks, whip, ratchet, sizzle cymbal, marimba, metal plates, wood drums, tomtoms, cabasa, maracas, crotales, guiro, claves, bamboo chimes, castanets, ping pong balls, a lion's roar, chocola, referee whistle, wine glass - and live electronics. Mr. Lindberg will play one of two pianos onstage, with the lid removed so that he can use elements from inside the instrument. Around him will be a large setup of percussion instruments with scrap metal elements.

The performances of Kraft will be preceded by Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun and Sibelius's Violin Concerto. A Pre-Concert talk will take place one hour before each performance in the Helen Hull Room at Avery Fisher Hall unless otherwise indicated. Speaker to be announced. Tickets are $7 (students and groups: $5) in addition to the concert ticket. Attendance is limited to 90 people. For information, visit nyphil.org or call (212) 875-5656.

Photo Credit: Chris Lee