Archive for the ‘Curiously Random’ Category

Thinking About the Future

Monday, January 9th, 2012

By Alan Gilbert On January 4 the Philharmonic made a very important announcement: Matthew VanBesien has been named the next Executive Director of the Orchestra. I feel very positive about this choice, as I was quoted as saying, but here I want to discuss some of the thoughts that have come to my mind in […]

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Ruminations and reflections, Lyonnais

Monday, October 17th, 2011

By Alan Gilbert I’ve recently tried my hand at acrylic painting, and just bought a how-to book that stresses the overriding importance of composition — i.e. form and the use of spatial elements — in a successful work of art. By that measure, I can tell you right now that this blog entry will not […]

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Music and 9/11

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

On Saturday, September 10 2011, Alan Gilbert spoke before the New York Philharmonic performed Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, Resurrection, on A Concert for New York. Following are his reflections that preceded the performance, which was telecast nationally on PBS and can be watched in full at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/a-concert-for-new-york/watch-the-fully-edited-broadcast-program-with-tom-brokaw/1182/. We are faced, on this anniversary, with the responsibility […]

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Afterthoughts

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

By Alan Gilbert I have been thinking generally about how orchestras define themselves and, specifically, about what the New York Philharmonic means to the public we serve. Last week’s Philharmonic production of The Cunning Little Vixen was a joy to work on, and I am hugely proud of what we achieved as an institution. For […]

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What We’ve Been Doing Lately

Tuesday, June 7th, 2011

By Alan Gilbert Those of us who were involved in preparing for last year’s production of Ligeti’s Le Grand Macabre are remembering the great excitement we all felt in this very same rehearsal room as we prepare for our upcoming performances of Janáček’s opera The Cunning Little Vixen, but are also amazed at how different […]

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Meaning in Music

Thursday, April 7th, 2011

By Alan Gilbert On Monday, April 4, 2011, Alan Gilbert became the first New York Philharmonic Music Director to give the Annual Erich Leinsdorf Lecture. His remarks, titled “Performance and Interpretation,” were Webcast live. Following is an excerpt from his speech, which can be watched in full on the New York Philharmonic’s Website, nyphil.org/leinsdorf. Meaning […]

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Roman Holiday

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

By Alan Gilbert It’s hard to avoid Michelangelo in Rome — his presence seems to be everywhere in this most beautiful of cities. Sunday was free from my work with the Accademia di Santa Cecilia Orchestra, and you could say that, in a way, I actually spent the day with Michelangelo (and most pleasant it […]

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Casual Musings on Top 10s and Greatness

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

By Alan Gilbert I have followed Anthony Tommasini’s recent series in The New York Times on the Top 10 composers with great interest, both because I was curious about what the final list would be, and also because it is reminiscent of one of my favorite parlor games that I have played for years with […]

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Layover Thoughts

Tuesday, December 21st, 2010

By Alan Gilbert Yesterday´s trip from New York to Stockholm turned out fine, I guess, since I eventually arrived, but it would have been easier to take if the problems had resulted from the bad weather that has closed so many of Europe´s airports, rather than from a simple screw-up by the airline. To make […]

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Paris Pelleas Project

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010

By Alan Gilbert For many years I have been speaking about the idea of introducing a visual element to the auditory core of a concert with Doug Fitch, my friend and frequent collaborator. It’s a tricky matter as it is far from evident how to do so in a way that enhances the experience – […]

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