Jaap van Zweden Directs at NY Phil Festival “Authentic Selves: The Beauty Within”

Thu, Jan 27 - Sat, Feb 5  2022

The New York Philharmonic announces details of Authentic Selves: The Beauty Within, a festival exploring the complexities of identity through orchestral and small-ensemble concerts, panel discussions, educational initiatives, and additional events. Authentic Selves was created with the Philharmonic’s 2021–22 Mary and James G. Wallach Artist-in-Residence, countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, who also performs.

World Premieres by JOEL THOMPSON and GREGORY SPEARS
With Texts by 22nd US Poet Laureate TRACY K. SMITH
Led by Music Director Jaap van Zweden
January 27–29 at the Rose Theater and February 3 and 5 at Alice Tully Hall

Music Director Jaap van Zweden leads two orchestral programs, January 27–29, 2022, at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall, and February 3 and 5, 2022, at Alice Tully Hall. Each week includes the World Premiere of Philharmonic-commissioned vocal works, each a setting of text by 22nd US Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith, with Costanzo as soloist: The Places We Leave by Joel Thompson (January 27–29), and Love Story by Gregory Spears (February 3 and 5).

About the New York Phil Harmonic

The New York Philharmonic plays a leading cultural role in New York City, the United States, and the world, and has built a tradition of innovation that has allowed it to adapt and thrive over more than 179 years.

Each season the Orchestra connects with up to 50 million music lovers through live concerts in New York and around the world; international broadcasts on television, radio, and online; recordings; and education programs. Jaap van Zweden began his tenure as the 26th Music Director of the New York Philharmonic in the 2018–19 season, succeeding musical leaders including Alan Gilbert (2009–17); Lorin Maazel (2002–09); Kurt Masur (Music Director 1991–2002; named Music Director Emeritus in 2002); Zubin Mehta (1978–91); Pierre Boulez (1971–77); Leonard Bernstein (appointed Music Director in 1958; named Laureate Conductor in 1969); Arturo Toscanini (1928–36); and Gustav Mahler (1909–11).

In the 2021–22 season, Music Director Jaap van Zweden and the Philharmonic reaffirm their vital commitments to serving as New York’s orchestra and to championing new music.

About Jaap van Zweden

Jaap van Zweden began his tenure as the 26th Music Director of the New York Philharmonic in September 2018. He also serves as Music Director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic, a post he has held since 2012. He has conducted orchestras on three continents, appearing as guest with leading orchestras such as, in Europe, the Orchestre de Paris, Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, and, London Symphony Orchestra, and, in the United States, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, and Los Angeles Philharmonic.

In the 2021–22 season, Jaap van Zweden and the New York Philharmonic perform at Alice Tully Hall and the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall during the accelerated renovation of David Geffen Hall — scheduled to reopen in the fall of 2022 — and in three concerts presented by Carnegie Hall. In addition to symphonic cornerstones, he conducts the Orchestra in the World Premieres of works by Sarah Kirkland Snider, Gregory Spears, Joel Thompson, and Joan Tower; a US Premiere by Nico Muhly; and New York Premieres of works by Hannah Kendall and Nina Shekhar.

JAAP van ZWEDEN CONDUCTS: ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE ANTHONY ROTH COSTANZO, WORLD PREMIERE BY JOEL THOMPSON, AND JUSTIN VIVIAN BOND IN THEIR DEBUT

Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center

Thursday, January 27, 2022, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, January 28, 2022, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 29, 2022, 8:00 p.m.

Jaap van Zweden, conductor

Anthony Roth Costanzo, countertenor

Justin Vivian Bond*, vocalist (Only an Octave Apart)

Zack Winokur, director (Only an Octave Apart)

Joan TOWER                                                              Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman, No. 1

Joel THOMPSON & Tracy K. SMITH                      The Places We Leave (World Premiere–New York Philharmonic Commission)

PROKOFIEV                                                             Symphony No. 1, Classical

VARIOUS / Arr. Nico MUHLY                                Selections from Only an Octave Apart

Only an Octave Apart was originally staged by St. Ann’s Warehouse, written by Anthony Roth Costanzo and Justin Vivian Bond, co-created and directed by Zack Winokur, and music directed by Thomas Bartlett.

JAAP van ZWEDEN CONDUCTS: ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE ANTHONY ROTH COSTANZO IN BERLIOZ AND WORLD PREMIERE BY GREGORY SPEARS

Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center

Thursday, February 3, 2022, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 5, 2022, 8:00 p.m.

Jaap van Zweden, conductor

Anthony Roth Costanzo, countertenor

BEETHOVEN                                                            Leonore Overture No. 3

BERLIOZ                                                                   Les Nuits d’été

Gregory SPEARS & Tracy K. SMITH                      Love Story (World Premiere–New York

Philharmonic Commission)

EASTMAN / Ed. Luciano CHESSA                         Symphony No. II — The Faithful Friend:

The Lover Friend’s Love for the Beloved