2018-19 Great Performers Season Preview

British orchestras and chamber music are the focus of Great Performers.
by Paul J. Pelkonen

Esa-Pekka Salonen returns to New York next year to conduct the Philharmonia Orchestra.
Photo © Philharmonia Orchestra.

When Lincoln Center was established as New York's mecca for the performing arts, it became home to the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic and the New York City Ballet. However, it soon became apparent that there was need for an in-house performing arts series, inviting international orchestras and soloists from around the globe. The Great Performers series is no longer the flagship it once was, but it still provides the opportunity to hear international orchestras in a posh setting.
Most symphony concerts in this series are presented on Sunday afternoons at David Geffen Hall, or on nights when that stage is not being used by the New York Philharmonic. The organization also presents concerts on the smaller (but better-sounding) stage of Alice Tully Hall, as well as offering free concerts at the David Rubinstein Atrium.
Since Lincoln Center now devotes much of its fall  season to promoting the White Light Festival, there are only a few Great Performers events on the fall 2018 schedule. However, the spring of 2019 is packed with some exceptional concerts. Here's what we want to see next season at Great Performers at Lincoln Center:
Takács Quartet and Friends Oct 18, March 14 Alice Tully Hall
The legendary quartet plays major works by Franz Peter Schubert, including the epic String Quintet in C Major. The spring concert features Brahms and Schubert's "Trout" Quintet.
Hilary Hahn Oct 23, Alice Tully Hall
The American violin legend plays the first Bach Sonata and Partita for solo violin.
Les Arts Florissants Nov 15  Alice Tully Hall
Period-performance Haydn with the scholarly William Christie, leading the much played and well-loved oratorio The Creation.
Russian National Orchestra cond. Kirill Karabits Feb 20 David Geffen Hall
The RNO returns with artistic director Mikhail Pletnev at the piano playing Rachmaninoff's Concerto No. 2 and the Symphonic Dances, the composer's last work. Kirill Karabits conducts.
Philharmonia Orcherstra cond. Esa-Pekka salon Salonen March 10-11 2019 David Geffen Hall
Esa-Pekka Salonen brings the London-based orchestra to town for two major concerts. One features the Bruckner Symphony No. 7. The other pairs Mr. Salonen's own Cello Concerto (with soloist Truls Mørk) and the complete score of Stravinsky's Firebird.
Joshua Bell, Steven Isserlis and Jeremy Denk April 30 Alice Tully Hall
These three acclaimed soloists take the stage together for a program of major chamber works by Mendelssohn, Shostakovich, Rachmaninoff, and Ravel
London Philharmonic Orchestra cond. Edward Gardner April 14-15 David Geffen Hall
Another great London-based orchestra blows into town with works by Debussy, Ravel and Mahler.
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra cond. Manfred Honeck May 19 David Geffen Hall
More Mahler from the Steel City under the baton of the acclaimed Manfred Honeck.
For information, subscriptions and tickets visit LincolnCenter.Org.