On March 8th, the New York Philharmonic, which was founded 176 years ago, appeared at the NCPA (National Centre for the Performing Arts) under the baton of Music Director-Designate Jaap van Zweden, who performed Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor in collaboration with violinist Ryu Goto and Mahler’sSymphony No. 5.
New York Philharmonic, under the baton of Jaap van Zweden, amazed the Beijing audience on March 8th
Photo by WANG Xiaojing
In the first half of the concert, the orchestra performed a brief overture and then Ryu Goto "chanted" a fascinating melody from Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor gracefully on the strings at the very beginning. As the concert continued on, Ryu Goto performed breathtaking music with brilliant skills to the accompaniment of the orchestra, revealing the romanticism and lyricism of the work in a long rhythmic line. As the final movement was played, youthful vitality and a joyful atmosphere filled the NCPA Concert Hall.
Ryu Goto played a fascinating melody from Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor on the strings
Photo by WANG Xiaojing
The New York Philharmonic is closely connected to Mahler and his Symphony No. 5. From 1909 to 1911, Mahler acted as music director for the orchestra. In 1911, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra performed the "Funeral March" from Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 in honour of Mahler, who had just passed away. In 1926, the orchestra performed the whole work under Willem Mengelberg’s baton, a close friend to Mahler. The orchestra gave a new interpretation of Mahler’s music under Bernstein’s leadership.
Jaap van Zweden and Ryu Goto
Photo by WANG Xiaojing
In the second half, the New York Philharmonic performed Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, leading the audience into Mahler’s realm of life through various feelings in its excellent performance such as sorrow, heaviness, passion, alacrity, warmth and optimism.
On March 9th, Van Zweden and the orchestra will perform Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1 and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring in collaboration with pianist Yuja Wang.
