Alec Baldwin's New Job: Voice Of The New York Philharmonic

NEW YORK — The New York Philharmonic will perform for the first time in Hanoi and Abu Dhabi next season and is getting Alec Baldwin to host its weekly national radio broadcasts.

Alan Gilbert, in his debut season as music director of the nation's oldest orchestra, will lead the musicians in the three-week tour in October, the Philharmonic announced Monday.

The orchestra, which made a historic trip to communist North Korea last winter, has performed in 59 countries but never in Vietnam or in Abu Dhabi, an oil-rich Middle Eastern emirate.

"I think we can actually do a lot to present a wonderful face of America to the world," Gilbert said in a statement. "This was very powerfully demonstrated with the concert in North Korea last year. Other plans we have _ to perform in Vietnam, for example _ can be a great way to show what's best about cultural life in the United States."

The 2009-2010 season, the orchestra's 168th, starts Sept. 12 with a free open rehearsal in the morning and an afternoon of chamber music and discussions.

The gala opening concert on Sept. 16 will feature soprano Renee Fleming and the world premiere of a work by Finnish composer Magnus Lindberg. The concert will be televised nationally on PBS. The last world premiere at a Philharmonic gala opener was in 1962, when Leonard Bernstein conducted Copland's "Connotations for Orchestra."

Lindberg's piece will be on the program during the October tour, which starts in Tokyo, the orchestra said.

Gilbert, 41, who is succeeding Lorin Maazel as music director, will also lead world premieres of Lindberg's clarinet concerto and Christopher Rouse's "Zhizn," an orchestral work commissioned by the orchestra celebrating the life of a Russian friend of the American composer.

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In late April, Russian conductor Valery Gergiev will lead a 2 1/2-week festival celebrating the music of Stravinsky.

On New Year's Eve, Gilbert will lead a nationally televised concert featuring artist-in-residence Thomas Hampson in an all-American program of music by Copland, Gershwin and selected Broadway favorites.

The announcement of Baldwin's selection comes a day after he won a Golden Globe for best comedy actor for NBC's "30 Rock." He took a redeye flight from California to attend the Philharmonic's news conference. His image as "The Bloviator" aside, Baldwin first started working with the orchestra last October by hosting a program at Avery Fisher Hall discussing the works of Dvorak.

"I'm very, very excited to be here," Baldwin said at the news conference. "I'm a huge fan of classical music."

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On the Net:

http://www.nyphil.org

Comments

[me again]

Glad to see he is cultured.....

[JazzPuff]

He is one step close to what he stated he always wanted to do.."Introduction of Classical Music". I am sure the concertos' will thrilled. If I were a song, his voice being a lead-in would be soothing and seducing. Kudos, on both, this and the Golden Globes award, they are well deserved for such a nice man.

[Ed438]

I hope between Alec Baldwin the new "voice" of the Philharmonic, and Alan Gilbert, the new conductor, that something can be done about the creeping mediocrity that has long been characteristic of this orchestra.

A "great" orchestra for a great city should be something more than the smug, self-satisfied group of performers we have now whose, often close to sight-read, concerts were described by a previous "voice" as "love-fests" when they were nothing of the kind. (They were merely sloppy!)

The two last conductors were old men and Loren Maazel, the outgoing conductor, gave me, at least, the impression of being really doddering. Mr. Gilbert, a sort of Philharmonic "brat", both parents have played in the orchestra, sound like a rather desperate choice but we can only wish him the best.

Like our new incoming President Obama, I say he's got his work cut out for him!

[merger]

He is perfect for it. Alec is a great guy and we wish him success always.

[magnetplanner]

Baldwin is a gifted voiceover talent. Great choice.

[QueenCeleste]

Wonderful choice--congratuations Alec! I look forward to listening. And congratulations on your Golden Globe--most richly deserved!

[4Q-N4Q2]

He's still here??

He said he was going to leave the country when GWB was elected eight years ago.

[moveover]

I won't watch or spend money on ANYTHING this child abusing puke does. I've never seen his show and I never will.

[rigormrtis]

He looks like al franken in that photo.

[beauwulff]

After his application for 1st kazoo was rejected.

[Chicago48]

So how come a smart, cute guy like Baldwin isn't married or doesn't have a girlfriend (we can see?)

[AmandaBC]

Irish men aren't easy to get along with... My mom knows something about that... ;)

[sasson]

He kind of looks like Charles nelson riley in that picture.

[pickwickianmom]

He is funny, bright, likable. I wish he could find some peace in this world. Maybe getting to work with classical music will help a little.

He (or his lawyer) also brought back that wonderful word: homonuculus . I'm too lazy to spell check and I can't spell without one so if someone can figure it out, great. I'm just pointing out that it is an underused word and Baldwin gave it a spotlight.

I'm starting to wonder if Kim and Alec shouldn't just give up and stay together. Neither appears to have had another real relationship since the divorce and they have spent years wrapped up with each other on the divorce. Obsessed. I know he adored her. I think they may have been the love of each others lives.

[AmandaBC]

Congratulations!! Alec Baldwin has always had a knack for "real" music. And BTW, he was great in "South Pacific" at Carnagie Hall four years ago, one of the funniest Luthers ever.

[kimleehan]

Eat your heart out Sean Hannity.