Insights at the Atrium Event Featuring Professor Michael Beckerman: “Origins of a New World Voice: NYC in 1893,” Monday, September 12, 2016
The New York Philharmonic 175th anniversary season commenced in late September with three exciting programs featuring Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, From the New World — the Philharmonic’s first World Premiere of a work written in New York that would become part of the standard repertoire. That history-making premiere took place in December 1893, and provides this year’s theme for the Philharmonic’s programming and educational outreach.
Kicking off the New York Philharmonic’s anniversary activities and The New World Initiative—which coincide with the 175th anniversary of the birth of Antonín Dvořák—the New York Philharmonic presented a free Insights at the Atrium event, “Origins of a New World Voice: NYC in 1893,”Monday, September 12, 2016, at 7:30 PM. A theatrical exploration of Dvořák’s time in New York and the American influences in his New World Symphony, the event was led by Professor Michael Beckerman, the author of Dvořák and His World, who has been named The Leonard Bernstein Scholar-in-Residence at the New York Philharmonic for the 2016–17 season.
Dr. Beckerman was joined by actors reenacting the reception of African American musical sources at the dawn of the Progressive Era and how they contributed to the development of an American musical voice. The event, co-presented with Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, took place at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center. As The Leonard Bernstein Scholar-in-Residence, Michael Beckerman will be involved with public outreach and education programs throughout the season and work with the Philharmonic Archives on projects related to Dvořák, contributing further to The New World Initiative.
The Leonard Bernstein Scholar-in-Residence at the New York Philharmonic program honors and recognizes the enduring contribution of Leonard Bernstein, the Orchestra’s Music Director from 1958 to 1969 and subsequent Laureate Conductor. The position was created in the 2005–06 season to coincide with the 15th anniversary of Bernstein’s death, on October 14, 1990.
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Professor Michael Beckerman, Leonard Bernstein Scholar-in-Residence at the New York Philharmonic, lectures and performs with actors at Lincoln Center Rubenstein Atrium. Photo Credit: New York Philharmonic