The New York Philharmonic will perform the New York Concert Premiere of The Marie-Josée Kravis Composer-in-Residence Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Helix, conducted by the Finnish composer’s compatriot Susanna Mälkki, Musical America’s 2017 Conductor of the Year.
Ms. Mälkki will also conduct Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, with Baiba Skride as soloist, and Debussy’s La Mer, Thursday, January 11, 2018, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, January 12 at 2:00 p.m.; and Saturday, January 13 at 8:00 p.m.
The New York Times wrote that Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Helix is an “exuberant showpiece … the tempo markings steadily increase throughout, adding propulsive force to a work that, thick with detail, throws out sounds and ideas as it builds steam. Mr. Salonen clearly enjoys immersing himself in an orchestra’s sound and playing with the many things it can do.”
Susanna Mälkki made her Philharmonic debut in May 2015 in a performance The New York Times praised as “inquisitive,” “ebullient and imaginative,” and “auspicious.” Like Mr. Salonen, she was born in Helsinki and attended the Sibelius Academy. She is chief conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and principal guest conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, which Esa-Pekka Salonen led as music director (1992-2009) and currently serves as conductor laureate.
Esa-Pekka Salonen – the composer-conductor who displays “a kind of complete musicianship rarely encountered today” (The Boston Globe) – is in his third and final season as The Marie-Josée Kravis Composer-in-Residence. The Orchestra gave the New York Premiere of his Gambit in October 2017, and in April 2018 he will conduct a World Premiere-New York Philharmonic Commission by Kravis Emerging Composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir; Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, Eroica; and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3, with Benjamin Grosvenor as soloist (inaugural recipient of the Ronnie and Lawrence Ackman Classical Piano Prize at the New York Philharmonic). Highlights of his residency have included the New York and European Premieres of his Cello Concerto with Yo-Yo Ma (2017); the CONTACT! concerts “Salonen’s Floof and Other Delights” (2016) and “The Messiaen Connection” (2016); and his conducting Messiaen’s Turangalîla-symphonie, as part of Messiaen Week (2016), and Circle Map,a program celebrating Kaija Saariaho presented by Park Avenue Armory (2016).