ANNUAL REPORT 2017–18 LETTERS FROM THE LEADERSHIP The 2017–18 season marked the We often say that the New York beginning of a vibrant new era at Philharmonic is New York’s Orchestra. the New York Philharmonic. Deborah But what does it mean to be part of Borda returned as our President and this ever-changing, challenging, yet Chief Executive Officer. As you know, in rewarding city? October we announced a re-evaluation Our 2017–18 celebration of Bernstein’s of the David Geffen Hall project; in centennial was more than a salute to partnership with Lincoln Center, very the astounding artistry of a past Music positive work on a feasibility study is now Director. We also honor Lenny as the being done to determine a path forward. original Musician-as-Citizen: his activism And in her first few months Deborah and humanity still challenge us to devise oversaw the completion of the Launch new ways to contribute to the community Fund, which raised $50 million — closing at the grassroots level. the season with our first balanced Take our Very Young Composers Brad Trent Brad budget in more than a decade. Frank Jürgen program, which empowers would-be Deborah also assembled a dynamic and effective leadership team. Their composers and engages their fellow New York City students. This hidden gem combination of experience with imagination ensures that the Philharmonic will live among our education programs grabbed the spotlight last summer, when the up to our great traditions while breaking new ground as a cultural visionary. Orchestra performed works by two remarkable 11-year-old New York City students We also had a glimpse of our artistic future in Jaap van Zweden’s appearances in front of more than 80,000 people at our Concerts in the Parks, Presented by in his season as Music Director Designate. From the Opening Gala with Mahler Didi and Oscar Schafer. Their talent and poise caught the attention of The New York and the fascinating winter programs to our Asia 2018 tour and summer concerts in Times, NBC Nightly News, and more, showing the country what happens when new Shanghai — all of us who were privileged to enjoy these performances know that voices find the right platform. Jaap’s energy and passion have found their match in the magnificent musicians of The Philharmonic’s connection with New York informed the conversations that the New York Philharmonic. went into planning our 2018–19 programming. We structured the season in a new The establishment of fiscal stability. Jaap and Deborah’s inspiring partnership. way, grounding it on three pillars that invite citywide discourse around art and Wondrous music-making by Jaap and this Orchestra. The season when we marked ideas. We actually canceled a national tour so the Orchestra could perform at the Philharmonic’s 175th birthday was one of transition, setting a strong foundation Phil the Hall, our special low-cost concerts for New York’s everyday heroes. for the launch of Jaap’s tenure as Music Director in 2018–19, and a future full of At its heart, New York is vibrant, innovative, powerful. New York’s Orchestra has promise, impact, and beauty. been a trailblazer throughout its history, and at its heart is the artistry, excellence, and fierce commitment of our musicians. Sincerely yours, Sincerely, Oscar S. Schafer Chairman Deborah Borda President and Chief Executive Officer CONCERTS & ATTENDANCE CONCERTS ATTENDANCE 102 Subscription 246,942 16 Non-Subscription 41,145 (2 Star Wars: A New Hope, 1 Opening Gala Concert, 3 Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, 2 Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, 2 Star Wars: The Force Awakens, 1 Holiday Brass, 1 New Year’s Eve, 1 Lunar New Year Concert, 1 Spring Gala: An Evening with Audra McDonald, 1 Artist-in-Residence recital, 1 Foreign Bodies) 4 Young People’s Concerts 9,994 6 Young People’s Concerts for Schools 11,644 10 Very Young People’s Concerts 3,838 (9 at Merkin Hall, 1 for children on the autism spectrum co-presented with Lincoln Center) 22 Open Rehearsals 25,648 1 Regional (Long Island University) 1,178 2 CONTACT! 210 6 Philharmonic Ensembles at Merkin Concert Hall 2,041 5 Concerts in the Parks and the Free Indoor Concert, Presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer 82,850 1 Annual Free Memorial Day Concert, Presented by the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation 2,500 8 ASIA 2018 Tour 14,776 3 in the Ann Arbor Residency 8,055 4 in the Shanghai Residency 4,401 6 in the Bravo! Vail Residency 17,434 196 TOTAL 472,656 THE SEASON WITH JAAP VAN ZWEDEN Jaap van Zweden’s first performance as Music Director Designate of the New York Philharmonic, September 19 THE SEASON WITH JAAP VAN ZWEDEN After beginning his season as Music Director Designate with the Opening Gala Concert (September 19, previous page), Jaap van Zweden continued to forge a bond with the Orchestra through winter appearances that included a program combining John Luther Adams with Wagner (above, February 14), the ASIA 2018 tour (see Tours and Residencies), and the Shanghai Orchestra Academy and Residency Partnership (left, July 2). Meanwhile, he worked with the Philharmonic leadership to craft an impactful 2018–19 season, which he and President and CEO Deborah Borda revealed on February 14 (top left). NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC 2017 –18 SEASON JAAP VAN ZWEDEN, Music Director Designate Qianqian Li‡ Rémi Pelletier Flutes Joshua Gersen, Assistant Conductor Principal Robert Rinehart Robert Langevin Leonard Bernstein, Laureate Conductor, Lisa Kim* The Mr. and Mrs. G. Chris Andersen Chair Principal In Memory of Laura Mitchell The Lila Acheson Wallace Chair 1943–1990 Soohyun Kwon+ Yoobin Son Kurt Masur, Music Director Emeritus, 1991–2015 Cellos The Joan and Joel I. Picket Chair Mindy Kaufman Esa-Pekka Salonen, The Marie-Josée Kravis Carter Brey Duoming Ba The Edward and Priscilla Pilcher Chair Composer-in-Residence Principal Hannah Choi The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Chair Blair Francis++ Leif Ove Andsnes, The Mary and James G. Eileen Moon-Myers* Wallach Artist-in-Residence Piccolo Marilyn Dubow The Paul and Diane Guenther Chair Violins The Sue and Eugene Mercy, Jr. Chair Eric Bartlett Mindy Kaufman Lydia Hong Frank Huang Patrick Jee Oboes Concertmaster Hyunju Lee The Charles E. Culpeper Chair Elizabeth Dyson Liang Wang Zeyu Victor Li Principal Sheryl Staples The Mr. and Mrs. James E. Buckman Chair The Alice Tully Chair Principal Associate Concertmaster Joo Young Oh Alexei Yupanqui Gonzales The Elizabeth G. Beinecke Chair Sherry Sylar* Su Hyun Park Maria Kitsopoulos Michelle Kim Marié Rossano The Secular Society Chair Robert Botti Assistant Concertmaster The Lizabeth and Frank Newman Chair Mark Schmoockler† Sumire Kudo The William Petschek Family Chair Grace Shryock++ Quan Ge Na Sun Qiang Tu The Gary W. Parr Chair Nathan Vickery English Horn Hae-Young Ham Vladimir Tsypin† Ru-Pei Yeh Grace Shryock++ The Mr. and Mrs. Timothy M. George Chair Jin Suk Yu The Credit Suisse Chair in honor of Paul Calello Lisa GiHae Kim Clarinets Kuan Cheng Lu Anthony McGill Violas Basses Kerry McDermott Principal Cynthia Phelps Timothy Cobb The Edna and W. Van Alan Clark Chair Anna Rabinova Principal Principal Pascual Martínez Forteza*** The Mr. and Mrs. Frederick P. Rose Chair Fiona Simon Max Zeugner* The Honey M. Kurtz Family Chair The Shirley Bacot Shamel Chair Rebecca Young* The Herbert M. Citrin Chair Amy Zoloto Sharon Yamada The Joan and Joel Smilow Chair Blake Hinson** Pavel Vinnitsky++ Shanshan Yao Cong Wu** Satoshi Okamoto The Norma and Lloyd Chazen Chair Elizabeth Zeltser E-Flat Clarinet Dorian Rence The William and Elfriede Ulrich Chair Randall Butler Pascual Martínez Forteza Yulia Ziskel The Ludmila S. and Carl B. Hess Chair Katherine Greene The Friends and Patrons Chair David J. Grossman The Mr. and Mrs. William J. McDonough Chair Bass Clarinet Orin O’Brien Vivek Kamath Amy Zoloto The Secular Society Chair Peter Kenote Isaac Trapkus Kenneth Mirkin Rion Wentworth (Continued) Judith Nelson NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC 2017 –18 SEASON (CONTINUED) Bassoons Bass Trombone Librarians * Associate Principal Judith LeClair George Curran Lawrence Tarlow ** Assistant Principal Principal The Daria L. and William C. Foster Chair Principal *** Acting Associate Principal The Pels Family Chair Sandra Pearson** + On Leave Kim Laskowski* Tuba Sara Griffin** ++ Replacement/Extra Roger Nye Alan Baer The Rosalind Miranda Chair Principal Orchestra Personnel in memory of Shirley and Bill Cohen The New York Philharmonic uses the revolving seating DeAnne Eisch method for section string players who are listed Arlen Fast Timpani Orchestra Personnel Manager alphabetically in the roster. Markus Rhoten Contrabassoon Principal Stage Representative The Carlos Moseley Chair Honorary Members Of The Society Arlen Fast Joseph Faretta Kyle Zerna** Emanuel Ax Stanley Drucker Horns Audio Director Percussion Zubin Mehta Richard Deane Lawrence Rock Acting Principal Christopher S. Lamb Principal Leelanee Sterrett*** The Constance R. Hoguet Friends of the R. Allen Spanjer Philharmonic Chair The Rosalind Miranda Chair Daniel Druckman* Alana Vegter++ The Mr. and Mrs. Ronald J. Ulrich Chair Howard Wall Kyle Zerna The Ruth F. and Alan J. Broder Chair Chad Yarbrough++ Harp Nancy Allen Trumpets Principal The Mr. and Mrs. William T. Knight III Chair Christopher Martin Principal The Paula Levin Chair Keyboard In Memory of Paul Jacobs Matthew Muckey* Ethan Bensdorf HARPSICHORD Thomas Smith Paolo Bordignon Instruments made possible, in part, by The Richard S. and Karen LeFrak Trombones PIANO Endowment Fund. Joseph Alessi Eric Huebner Principal The Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Piano Chair The Gurnee F. and Marjorie L. Hart Chair ORGAN Colin Williams* Kent Tritle David Finlayson † denotes musician who retired during the season The Donna and Benjamin M. Rosen Chair ‡ denotes musician granted tenure during the season PHILHARMONIC MUSICIANS IN THE SPOTLIGHT The virtuosity of Philharmonic musicians were on display when they took the solo spotlight.