The word is old and there’s not many being built today but that doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate a classic (pun intended). Do you know what a bandshell is? Google says that it’s a ‘large concave shell with special acoustic properties.’
It should be no surprise to you that we have perhaps the most famous structure. The iconic Naumburg Bandshell is an outdoor amphitheater where free classical concerts have been presented for over 100 years. Named after Elkan Naumburg, who donated the Naumburg Bandshell to New York City in 1923, the series seeks to stimulate and encourage new audiences for classical music in the serene setting of Central Park.
Any tradition spanning over a century warrant attention; especially if it’s free. Throw in some stellar music and it’s a no brainer. Heck, bring a date!
The Naumburg Orchestral Concerts is a free outdoor concert series at the Naumburg Bandshell in NYC’s Central Park, which is the oldest continuous, free, outdoor, western classical music concert series in the world (as we said tradition).
The concerts kick off on June 12 with Ensemble LPR celebrating their 10th anniversary with a performance featuring Fanfare & Fugue (for a Fish), a World Premiere by David Handler, the East Coast premiere of Thea Musgrave’s Aurora (in honor of the composer’s 90th birthday in May), John Corigliano’s The Red Violin: Suite for Violin and Orchestra (in honor of the composer’s 80th birthday in February) with Tessa Lark as soloist, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings, and Claude Debussy’s Clair de Lune.
We took the liberty of outlining the schedule for you so that you can make appropriate plans to make it. Maybe sneak in some wine and cheese. We won’t tell.
For more information, visit https://www.centralpark.com/things-to-do/concerts/naumburg-orchestra/
Tuesday, June 12 | 7:30pm
Naumburg Bandshell, Concert Ground, Central Park
South of the Bethesda Terrace and 72nd street
Ensemble LPR
Tessa Lark, Violin
Fanfare & Fugue (for a Fish) (World Premiere) – David Handler
Aurora (East Coast premiere) – Thea Musgrave
The Red Violin: Suite for Violin and Orchestra – John Corigliano
Serenade for Strings – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Clair de Lune – Claude Debussy
Tuesday, June 26 | 7:30pm
Naumburg Bandshell, Concert Ground, Central Park
South of the Bethesda Terrace and 72nd street
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Felix Mendelssohn
Summer Night (New York premiere) – Othmar Schoeck
String Quartet in F Minor, Op. 95 “Serioso” – Ludwig van Beethoven/Gustav Mahler
Tuesday, July 10 | 7:30pm
Naumburg Bandshell, Concert Ground, Central Park
South of the Bethesda Terrace and 72nd street
A Far Cry
Divertimento in F – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No. 3 – Philip Glass
Divertimento for String Orchestra – Béla Bartók
Tuesday, July 17 | 7:30pm
Naumburg Bandshell, Concert Ground, Central Park
South of the Bethesda Terrace and 72nd street
The Knights
Eric Jacobsen, Conductor
Within Her Arms – Anna Clyne
Armenian Folk Songs – arranged by Komitas
Idyll – Leoš Janáček
Hungarian Dances – Johannes Brahms
Tuesday, July 31 | 7:30pm
Naumburg Bandshell, Concert Ground, Central Park
South of the Bethesda Terrace and 72nd street
Orchestra of St. Luke’s
Sherezade Panthaki, Soprano
Krista Bennion Feeney, Violin
Concerto for Strings in C Major – Antonio Vivaldi
In Furore lustissimae Irae – Antonio Vivaldi
Four Seasons – Antonio Vivaldi