Jaap van Zweden made a name for himself as the youngest concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, after which he held various positions at internationally acclaimed orchestras. In the US Van Zweden gained fame as the musical director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. On January 27, 2016, the prestigious New York Philharmonic announced that the 57-year-old maestro would be appointed the office of music director, effective with the 2018/19 season. The orchestra just announced their concert program for this season, and it looks very promising.
New York Philharmonic & Jaap van Zweden 2018/19 season
With the inclusion of Beethoven’s Eroica and Mozart’s Jupiter symphony, the program offers two popular attractions for a wide audience. On the other hand, the list features the world premieres of Julia Wolfe’s Fire in my mouth and David Lang’s prisoner of the state (in collaboration with Rotterdam’s De Doelen concert hall). Besides these new works the concert series also includes the homecoming of Brahm’s Symphony no. 1, of which the original manuscript resides in New York’s Morgan Library & Museum. From October 4 to 6 there will even be a special double Dutch occasion as Van Zweden’s New York Philarmonic will premiere Louis Andriessen’s Agamemnon, and Dutch violinist Simone Lamsma will join in on the Shostakovich-concerts later this year.
Photo © Chris Lee
2018/19 Performances
Opening Gala Concert
September 20, 2018 – David Geffen Hall
– Ashley Fure’s new work (world premiere)
– Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major
– Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring
Conductor: Jaap van Zweden | Piano: Daniil Trifonov
Trifonov, Beethoven, and The Rite of Spring
September 21, 22, and 25, 2018 – David Geffen Hall
– Ashley Fure’s new work
– Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 (Emperor)
– Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring
Conductor: Jaap van Zweden | Piano: Daniil Trifonov
Bruckner’s Symphony No. 8
September 27 & 28, 2018 – David Geffen Hall
– Conrad Tao’s new work (world premiere)
– Bruckner’s Symphony No. 8
Conductor: Jaap van Zweden
Debussy’s La Mer and Stravinsky
October 4, 5, and 6, 2018 – David Geffen Hall
– Louis Andriessen’s Agamemnon (world premiere)
– Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto & Symphonies of Wind Instruments (1947 version)
– Debussy’s La Mer
Conductor: Jaap van Zweden | Violin: Leila Josefowicz
Van Zweden Conducts Shostakovich
November 29 & 30, December 4, 2018 – David Geffen Hall
– Britten’s Violin Concerto
– Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 7, Leningrad
Conductor: Jaap van Zweden | Violin: Simone Lamsma
Van Zweden Conducts Mozart’s Symphony No. 40
December 6, 7, and 8, 2018 – David Geffen Hall
– J.S. Bach/Arr. Webern’s Fuga (Ricercata) from Musical Offering, BWV 1079
– Selected songs by Schubert & R. Strauss
– Mozart’s Symphony No. 40
Conductor: Jaap van Zweden | Baritone: Matthias Goerne
New Year’s Eve: Viennese Ball
December 31, 2018 – David Geffen Hall
Program to be announced
Conductor: Jaap van Zweden
Beethoven and Rachmaninoff
January 16, 18, 19, and 22, 2019 – David Geffen Hall
– Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2
– Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2
Conductor: Jaap van Zweden | Piano: Yefim Bronfman
Fire in my mouth
January 24, 25, and 26, 2019 – David Geffen Hall
– Stucky’s Elegy (from August 4, 1964)
– Copland’s Clarinet Concerto
– Julia Wolfe’s Fire in my mouth (world premiere)
Conductor: Jaap van Zweden | Clarinet: Anthony McGill | Chamber Choir: The Crossing | Video & scenic designer: Jeff Sugg
Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony and Ax
January 30 & 31, February 1 & 2, 2019 – David Geffen Hall
– Mozart’s Symphony No. 1
– Haydn’s Piano Concerto No. 11 in D major
– Stravinsky’s Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra
– (selections from) Mozart’s Symphony No. 41, Jupiter
Conductor: Jaap van Zweden | Piano: Emanuel Ax
Brahms’s A German Requiem
February 7, 8, and 9, 2019 – David Geffen Hall
– Brahms’s Ein deutsches Requiem
Conductor: Jaap van Zweden | Soprano: Ying Fang | Baritone: Matthias Goerne
Van Zweden Conducts Brahms’s First Symphony
March 21, 23, and 26, 2019 – David Geffen Hall
– Ives’s Central Park in the Dark
– John Adams’s The Wound-Dresser
– Brahms’s Symphony No. 1
Conductor: Jaap van Zweden | Baritone: Matthias Goerne
Maurizio Pollini with the New York Philharmonic
March 27, 2019 – David Geffen Hall
– Schumann’s Piano Concerto
– Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5
Conductor: Jaap van Zweden | Piano: Maurizio Pollini
Phil the Hall
April 4, 5, & 6 (2x), 2019 – David Geffen Hall
Program to be announced
Conductor: Jaap van Zweden
Mahler’s Symphony No. 6
April 11, 12, and 13, 2019
– Mahler’s Symphony No. 6
Conductor: Jaap van Zweden
Beethoven’s Eroica
May 22, 23, 25, and 28, 2019
– Shostakovich / Orch. Barshai’s Chamber Symphony
– Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, Eroica
Conductor: Jaap van Zweden
The Annual Free Memorial Day Concert
May 27, 2019 – The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
– Bruckner’s Symphony No. 8
Conductor: Jaap van Zweden
Mozart & Corigliano
May 30 & June 1, 2019 – David Geffen Hall
– Brahms’s Tragic Ouverture
– Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24
– John Corigliano’s Symphony No. 1
Conductor: Jaap van Zweden | Piano: David Fray
prisoner of the state
June 6, 7, and 8, 2019 – David Geffen Hall
– David Lang’s prisoner of the state (world premiere in collaboration with Rotterdam’s De Doelen concert hall)
Conductor: Jaap van Zweden | Director: Elkhanah Pulitzer | Soprano: Julie Mathevet | Tenor: Alan Oke | Baritone: Jarrett Ott | Bass-Baritone: Eric Owens