Jaap van Zweden News

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Society would like to express deepest condolences to the family of Maestro Lim Kek-tjiang, who passed away peacefully on 15 June 2017 in Melbourne.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Manfred Honeck close the 2016-2017 BNY Mellon Grand Classics season in joyous style with Ludwig van Beethoven's beloved 'Pastoral' Symphony and Mahler's Seven Songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn on June 23-25 at Heinz Hall.

The George London Foundation for Singers has been honoring, supporting, and presenting the finest young opera singers in the U.S. and Canada since 1971.

Robert Schumann said he was “in seventh heaven” after hearing Schubert's Ninth Symphony. From its majestic opening horn call to the finale that salutes Beethoven's “Ode to Joy”, the subtitle “Great” is entirely suited to this marvellous musical feast.

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) is delighted to announce an additional performance of Joe Hisaishi in Concert. Due to the overwhelming response, the subscription quota for Friday and Saturday performances (4 & 5 May 2018) is already full.

One of the world's greatest dance companies, American Ballet Theatre (Kevin McKenzie, Artistic Director), will unite with the seven-time GRAMMY® Award-winning musicians of the St. Louis Symphony in February 2018, at the University of Nebraska's Lied Center for Performing Arts. The collaboration was announced this morning at New York City's Lincoln Center and features a once-in-a-lifetime performance of Igor Stravinsky's masterwork:Firebird with Principal Dancers Misty Copeland (Friday, Feb. 16, 2018) and Isabella Boylston (Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018) illuminating the iconic Firebird role.

In the third of Alan Gilbert's final four subscription weeks as New York Philharmonic Music Director, he will lead an enhanced concert production of Wagner's Das Rheingold. Soloists include bass-baritone Eric Owens as Wotan, mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton as Fricka (in her New York Philharmonic debut), baritone Christopher Purves as Alberich (debut), tenor Russell Thomas as Loge, mezzo-soprano Kelley O'Connor as Erda, bass Morris Robinson as Fasolt (debut), bass Stephen Milling as Fafner (debut), soprano Rachel Willis-Sorensen as Freia (debut), tenor Brian Jagde as Froh (debut), bass-baritone Christian Van Horn as Donner (debut), tenor Peter Bronder as Mime (debut), soprano Jennifer Zetlan as Woglinde, mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano as Wellgunde, and mezzo-soprano Tamara Mumford as Flosshilde. The enhanced concert production will be directed by Louisa Muller with costume design - featuring character-based treatment of modern concert attire - by David C. Woolard. The performances will take place Thursday, June 1, 2017, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, June 3 at 8:00 p.m.; and Tuesday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m.

The opportunity to experience Beethoven's “Triple Concerto” is very rare because it requires three equally outstanding soloists. But in the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra's (HK Phil) Sunny Beethoven - Epic Shostakovich concert on 26 & 27 April 2017 in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall, we are joined by three such players, the Storioni Trio. Maestro Jaap van Zweden also leads one of Shostakovich's most tumultuous works, composed in the midst of World War II.

New York Philharmonic Board Chairman Oscar S. Schafer, on behalf of the Board of Directors and Music Director Designate Jaap van Zweden, today announced that Deborah Borda has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York Philharmonic, to begin on September 15, 2017. Bill Thomas, who currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the New York Philharmonic, will become Executive Director, effective May 1, 2017. Ms. Borda succeeds Matthew VanBesien, who has held the Orchestra's chief administrative post since 2012. She has served as president and CEO of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since 2000, having previously served in the same capacity at the New York Philharmonic during the 1990s.

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) has announced that Quintessence, a work by noted local composer Dr Fung Lam will be included in the program for its forthcoming tour to Australia.

The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra and Music Director Larry Rachleff welcome another favorite, acclaimed violinist Augustin Hadelich, for a return engagement at The VETS, Avenue of the Arts, Providence.

The New York Philharmonic will return to Bravo! Vail in Colorado, celebrating its 30th season, for the Orchestra's 15th annual summer residency, July 21-28, 2017. The residency will include six orchestral concerts that honor the Philharmonic's legacy on the occasion of its 175th anniversary season and the conclusion of Alan Gilbert's tenure as Music Director.

Manfred Honeck will return to the New York Philharmonic to conduct Mahler's Symphony No. 1 and Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1, with Artist-in-Association Inon Barnatan as soloist in his final Philharmonic appearance in that role, Wednesday, February 15, 2017, at 7:30 p.m.;

Manfred Honeck will return to the New York Philharmonic to conduct Mahler's Symphony No. 1 and Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1, with Artist-in-Association Inon Barnatan as soloist in his final Philharmonic appearance in that role, Today, February 15, 2017, at 7:30 p.m.;

The New York Philharmonic welcomes Music Director Designate Jaap van Zweden in 2017-18, a season that celebrates the Philharmonic's greatest strengths and essential commitments while looking to the future as an innovative, global ensemble, spotlighting its musicians and partners, dedication to new music, wide-ranging repertoire, education programs, and accessibility.

The New York Philharmonic welcomes Music Director Designate Jaap van Zweden in 2017-18, a season that celebrates the Philharmonic's greatest strengths and essential commitments while looking to the future as an innovative, global ensemble, spotlighting its musicians and partners, dedication to new music, wide-ranging repertoire, education programs, and accessibility.

Music Director Alan Gilbert will lead the New York Philharmonic on the EUROPE / SPRING 2017 tour, March 23-April 7, 2017. The two-week tour - Alan Gilbert's ninth and final international tour as Music Director, the seventh with him to Europe - will feature fourteen concerts in seven countries.

 Matthew VanBesien, president of the New York Philharmonic, will become president of the University Musical Society of the University of Michigan in July 2017.

Matthew VanBesien, President of the NY Philharmonic, has announced that he will step down this spring. Its music director, Alan Gilbert, is also stepping down at the end of this season. Dutch maestro Jaap van Zweden, will become the new music director next season, replacing Gilbert.

Matthew VanBesien, president of the New York Philharmonic, will become president of the University Musical Society of the University of Michigan in July 2017.