Dvořák’s New World, Bernstein & Gershwin
About This Event
At David Geffen Hall, conductor Gustavo Gimeno leads a program pairing Dvořák’s New World with works by Leonard Bernstein and George Gershwin, with Hélène Grimaud as piano soloist. The program contrasts Dvořák’s use of Bohemian and Moravian folk elements with Gershwin’s blend of jazz and classical idioms, while Grimaud’s repertoire often links Gershwin and Dvořák.
About Symphony No. 9, 'From the New World'(symphony)
Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World,” was written during his New York years in the 1890s, when he led the National Conservatory and argued that American concert music should grow from Black and Indigenous traditions as well as European craft. The symphony channels that idea through a Bohemian composer’s ear, folding folk-like turns into a large, four-movement design. At David Geffen Hall, Gustavo Gimeno places it beside Leonard Bernstein and George Gershwin, with Hélène Grimaud as piano soloist, tracing a New York line between symphonic form and American vernacular. One can hear how the “New World” is less a postcard than a debate about identity.
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.