Also this issue:

Trading on Tragedy?
This Athens dance duo has nothing but respect for the World Trade Center.
-Brian Howard

The Illadelph Xperiment
-Ainé Ardron-Doley

Broken Hips
-Alex Richmond

Angelica Sanchez Quartet
-Nate Chinen

Bill Bruford's Earthworks
-Nate Chinen

May 16-22, 2002

musicpicks

New York Philharmonic

Classical

More than any other similar ensemble, the venerable New York Philharmonic has the uncanny ability to simultaneously look forward and backward in time with equal alacrity. Since Kurt Masur took over as music director in 1991, the Phil has continued its tradition of commissioning new works and of staying in tune with new, cutting edge music. As their appearance at the Kimmel Center on Friday night will attest, they also continue to draw strength and inspiration from their own history and standing as the first symphony orchestra in the United States. Both composers featured on the program, Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) and Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990), had strong personal ties to the orchestra. As one of the foremost conductors of his time, Mahler personally led the Philharmonic from 1909 until the time of his death and Bernstein did likewise from 1958 to '69. Though best known for his West Side Story, Bernstein's entire oeuvre incorporates a number of inherently American idioms. Listen for the influence of jazzlike elements in his "Serenade." Mahler completed the first complete draft of his Symphony No. 1 ("Titan") in 1888 but continued to tinker with it for many years. It will be interesting to hear if Masur and Co. perform the "Blumine" movement, which the composer later decided was expendable.

Fri., May 17, 8 p.m., $10-$112, Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce sts., 215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org.

—Andrew Ervin

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May 16, 2002
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