Dvořák’s New World, Bernstein & Gershwin
About This Event
At David Geffen Hall, the program pairs works by Antonín Dvořák, Leonard Bernstein and George Gershwin, tracing links between 19th-century symphonic writing and 20th-century American idioms. Pianist Hélène Grimaud and conductor Gustavo Gimeno lead the performance, juxtaposing Dvořák’s folk-rooted symphonic language with Bernstein’s theatrical voice and Gershwin’s fusion of jazz and classical elements.
About Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 "From the New World"(symphony)
Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World,” was written in 1893 during his New York years, when he led the National Conservatory and argued that American concert music should take Black spirituals and Indigenous melodies seriously. The score filters that idea through a Czech symphonist’s craft: wide-open themes, dance rhythms, and the famous Largo that suggests homesickness more than postcard Americana. At David Geffen Hall, Gustavo Gimeno places it in a city-specific frame alongside Leonard Bernstein and George Gershwin, with Hélène Grimaud at the piano. One enduring point is how the symphony turns New York’s cultural argument into structure rather than slogan.
About the Artists
Gustavo Gimeno
Gustavo Gimeno is a Spanish conductor known for his work with various orchestras and his contributions to classical music.
Hélène Grimaud
Hélène Grimaud is a French classical pianist known in New York for appearances at David Geffen Hall with the New York Philharmonic. Her repertoire moves between the European symphonic tradition and American concert works, including Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F alongside programs tied to Dvořák and Bernstein.
Antonín Dvořák
Step into the world of Antonín Dvořák, a master composer whose melodies have resonated through the grand corridors of New York City's David Geffen Hall. Known for his vibrant blend of classical symphonic traditions with the rich textures of Bohemian and Moravian folk music, Dvořák's work captivates audiences with its dynamic rhythms and lyrical beauty.
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) was an American composer, conductor, and pianist, known for his contributions to classical music and musical theater, including works such as 'West Side Story'.
George Gershwin
Step into the captivating world of George Gershwin, a maestro who seamlessly bridges the realms of jazz, popular, and classical music. Revered for his innovative compositions, Gershwin's opera "Porgy and Bess" stands as a landmark of American musical theater.