Alan Gilbert to Conduct Christopher Rouse's Oboe Concerto with Liang Wang, 11/14–16, 19

Music Director Alan Gilbert will lead the New York Philharmonic in the New York Premiere of The Marie-Josée Kravis Composer-in-Residence Christopher Rouse's Oboe Concerto, featuring Principal Oboe Liang Wang, and Richard Strauss's Also sprach Zarathustra and Don Juan, both featuring Concertmaster Glenn Dicterow in concertmaster solos. The concerts will take place Thursday, November 14, 2013, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, November 15 at 2:00 p.m.; Saturday, November 16 at 8:00 p.m.; and Tuesday, November 19 at 7:30 p.m.

The performance of Christopher Rouse's Oboe Concerto launches the second year of his tenure as The Marie-Josée Kravis Composer-in-Residence. "I've always said and long felt that Chris Rouse is one of the really important composers working today," Alan Gilbert said. "As we enter our second year with him as Composer-in-Residence, it's fun for me to see how the relationship gets stronger."

"What I've always loved most about the Philharmonic is that they play as though it's a matter of life or death," Mr. Rouse said. "The energy, excitement, commitment, and intensity are so exciting and wonderful for a composer. Some of the very best performances I've ever had have been by the Philharmonic."

"It's a real workout for the oboist," Mr. Rouse said of his Oboe Concerto. "It is one of my more genial works. There aren't too many clouds in the sky. It's meant to have a kind of amorous, romantic quality." Principal Oboe Liang Wang added: "It's a combination of lyrical themes with fireworks. It's genius."

The Philharmonic had scheduled the New York Premiere of the Oboe Concerto in December 2010, but the program was adjusted due to a blizzard. Later this season, Music Director Alan Gilbert will lead Mr. Rouse's Requiem on May 5, 2014, to open the Spring For Music festival at Carnegie Hall; the World Premiere of the New York Philharmonic-commissioned Symphony No. 4 on June 5-7, 2014, one of the highlights of the inaugural NY PHIL BIENNIAL; and Rapture on January 2-3 and 7, 2014. The Orchestra will also perform Rapture at Long Island's Tilles Center for the Performing Arts on January 4, 2014, and on the ASIA / WINTER 2014 tour.

This program also launches the season-long farewell to Concertmaster Glenn Dicterow, who will step down at the end of the 2013-14 season, concluding his 34-year tenure as the Philharmonic's longest-serving concertmaster. Mr. Dicterow selected four of his favorite concertmaster solos to perform during his final season, and two of those solos - in R. Strauss's Also sprach Zarathustra and Don Juan - are featured on this program. Mr. Dicterow performed and recorded Also sprach Zarathustra only two weeks into his January 1980 trial period for his role as Concertmaster: a recording of those performances was released by CBS Records.

"The most challenging part of performing concertmaster solos is that you start out playing amongst your colleagues and all of a sudden the solo light goes on and you're out there by yourself. You are a team player and then you're at bat, and you have to try to hit a home run," Mr. Dicterow said.

"Glenn is one of the great concertmasters, and he's part of the reason the New York Philharmonic is as great as it is," Alan Gilbert said. "I think everybody agrees that Glenn's generosity and the warmth of his sound has become part of what makes this orchestra the New York Philharmonic."

Glenn Dicterow will be spotlighted in two more concertmaster solos this season: in R. Strauss's Ein Heldenleben - which he has performed 44 times with the Philharmonic - conducted by Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, December 12-14, 2013, and in Tchaikovsky's Suite No. 3, conducted by Andrey Boreyko, January 22-25, 2014. On January 19, 2014, at Alice Tully Hall, The Juilliard School and the New York Philharmonic will present Mr. Dicterow in a free farewell chamber recital with Philharmonic musicians. Concluding the 2013-14 season, he will perform Beethoven's Triple Concerto with Principal Cello Carter Brey and The Mary and James G. Wallach Artist-in-Residence Yefim Bronfman, presented as part of The Beethoven Piano Concertos: A Philharmonic Festival, conducted by Alan Gilbert, June 24-28, 2014.

Related Events
* Pre-Concert Talks
Composer Paul Moravec will introduce the program. Pre-Concert Talks are $7; discounts available for multiple concerts, students, and groups. They take place one hour before each performance in the Helen Hull Room, unless otherwise noted. Attendance is limited to 90 people. Information: nyphil.org or (212) 875-5656.

* National and International Radio Broadcast
The program will be broadcast the week of December 8, 2013,* on The New York Philharmonic This Week, a radio concert series syndicated weekly to more than 300 stations nationally, and to 122 outlets internationally, by the WFMT Radio Network.

The 52-week series, hosted by actor Alec Baldwin, is generously underwritten by The Kaplen Brothers Fund, the Audrey Love Charitable Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Philharmonic's corporate partner, MetLife Foundation. The broadcast will be available on the Philharmonic's Website, nyphil.org. The program is broadcast locally in the New York metropolitan area on 105.9 FM WQXR on Thursdays at 8:00 p.m.

*Check local listings for broadcast and program information.

Tickets
Tickets for these concerts start at $29. Tickets for Open Rehearsals are $18. Pre-Concert Talks are $7; discounts are available for multiple concerts, students, and groups (visit nyphil.org/preconcert for more information). All other 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 Saturday, and 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. on 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 $13.50 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. [Ticket prices subject to change.]

Pictured: Alan Gilbert
Photo Credit: Chris Lee

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