NY Philharmonic Embarks on Whistlestop California Tour

California classical music fans are gearing up for the New York Philharmonic’s sweep through the state. Violinist and musical director Alan Gilbert is leading the group on his first US tour with the Phil, offering seven concerts in six cities and marking the orchestra’s first extensive visit to California since 1999. On May 10, the NY Phil will be in Santa Barbara and will travel to Davis on May 12. The Philharmonic will perform May 13 and 14 at Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco as part of the 2011–12 centennial celebrations of the San Francisco Symphony, in conjunction with the appearances of five other major American orchestras.

On Sunday, May 13, from 1:30 to 4:30 pm, Gilbert will be the keynote speaker in “Talking About Audiences,” a free public event to be held in Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. In this conversation with University of Michigan musicologist Mark Clague, Gilbert will discuss the role of live music in a world of changing audience habits.

On May 15, the symphony is scheduled to perform in San Diego.

The West Coast tour started May 8 in Costa Mesa, followed by a May 9 appearance in Los Angeles.

Gilbert has performed extensively as a guest conductor in California, leading both the San Francisco Symphony and Los Angeles Philharmonic, as well as a production at the Los Angeles Opera. As Gilbert observes, “We like to think of ourselves as not just a New York orchestra, but as an American orchestra and an international orchestra. This is my first US tour, and while we’ll be performing exclusively in California, we’ll be playing for audiences in important cities where music is alive and well. This is an exciting opportunity for us. Performing in San Francisco has special significance as the orchestra there is celebrating its 100th anniversary. We are happy to be part of a series celebrating this milestone in their history.”