The American Symphony Orchestra will offer a free, nine-concert chamber music series to welcome spring at Manhattan’s Bryant Park and 34th St. Herald Square Plaza from May 3–19. The five different programs have been curated by ASO musicians, who will perform music ranging from 20th-century Mexican and all-American jazz composers to Afro-Cuban Batá drumming and classical works for horn quartet and woodwind trio. Featured artists include percussionist and composer Javier Diaz, saxophonist Roxy Coss, and oboist Toyin Spellman-Diaz. All concerts last for one hour and begin at 5:30 pm.
Music-lovers will find a limited number of first-come, first-served chairs set up near the Bryant Park Fountain Terrace in front of the stage and at Herald Square to enjoy an after-work respite with live music. Artists and audience members will be required to follow current public health guidelines including wearing masks and social distancing.
May 3, 2021 ~ 5:30pm ~ Modernism in Mexico at Bryant Park Fountain Terrace. Modernism in Mexico explores string quartets by some of Mexico’s most important 20th-century composers: Manuel Ponce, Silvestre Revueltas, and Carlos Chávez. Ponce was Mexico’s leading classical musician, and this performance of his well-known song Estrellita is a new arrangement for string quartet. Carlos Chávez was his student and heir apparent, touring extensively as a conductor and producing an impressive body of compositions. Chávez’s close colleague, violinist Silvestre Revueltas, was a notable conductor/composer whose work includes the score to the 1936 film Redes (The Wave), commissioned by the Mexican government.
May 4, 2021 ~ 5:30pm ~ Modernism in Mexico at Bryant Park Fountain Terrace. Modernism in Mexico explores string quartets by some of Mexico’s most important 20th century composers: Manuel Ponce, Silvestre Revueltas, and Carlos Chávez.
May 5, 2021 ~ 5:30pm ~ Strike Force at 34th Street Herald Square Plaza. This percussion ensemble combines Afro-Cuban Batá drumming and poetry with the sounds of contemporary chamber percussion.
May 10, 2021 ~ 5:30pm ~ ASO Salutes NYC/USA (Jazz Ensemble) at Bryant Park Fountain Terrace. A truly American genre, the ASO presents this jazz ensemble as a salute to U.S. healthcare workers who have made it possible for New Yorkers to experience live music once again.
May 11, 2021 ~ 5:30pm ~ ASO Salutes NYC/USA (Jazz Ensemble) at Bryant Park Fountain Terrace ~ A truly American genre, the ASO presents this jazz ensemble as a salute to U.S. healthcare workers who have made it possible for New Yorkers to experience live music once again.
May 12, 2021 ~ 5:30pm ~ Strike Force at 34th Street Herald Square Plaza ~ This percussion ensemble combines Afro-Cuban Batá drumming and poetry with the sounds of contemporary chamber percussion.
This performance is part of a free chamber music series in partnership with Bryant Park with programs curated by ASO musicians. Music-lovers will find a limited number of first-come, first-served chairs set up near the Bryant Park Fountain Terrace in front of the stage to enjoy an after-work respite with live music. Artists, staff, and audience members will be required to follow current public health guidelines including wearing masks and social distancing.
For the full calendar 2020/2021 Season, visit American Symphony Orchestra (ASO) for more dates in May.