From a past Elizabeth Mitchell performance @ Symphony Space

Bling-Blang - Elizabeth Mitchell

Three Little Birds - Elizabeth Mitchell

We were saddened to hear that the remarkable singer Lhasa de Sela succumbed to breast cancer at age 37. Her performance at Symphony Space in the Fall of 2005 truly embodied our eclectic spirit, taking cues from Gypsy music, French cabaret, Mexican rancheras, and American country ballads. Listen to the concert here and find out why this explosive artist will be so deeply missed. <a title="theglobeandmail.com" href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/lhasa-de-sela-her-songs-like-her-life-went-everywhere/article1420009/">Click here</a> to read an appreciation from Canda's Globe and Mail. The Boston Globe calls Lhasa "the ultimate global chanteuse" while the New York Daily News describes her music as combining "the lyricism of Tom Waits, the dark tones of Nick Cave and the sensuality of Kate Bush." Taking her cues from Gypsy music, French cabaret, Mexican rancheras and American country ballads, her music is explosive.
With violin, accordion, trumpet, tuba, sousaphone, theremin, bouzouki, piano and percussion backing the soaring and heartbreaking vocals of Nick Urata, DeVotchKa's sound is transcendent. For this special show, DeVotchKa play as a duo, spotlighting urgent and tragic vocals and classically trained violin.

De Cara a la Pared - Lhasa and DeVotchKa

El Desierto - Lhasa and DeVotchKa

Los Peces - Lhasa

The indie-rock singer-songwriter performs work from his acclaimed albums, Greetings from Michigan and Illinoise, as well as new arrangements of other favorites. In this performance his intimate, guitar-based band is backed by string and brass ensembles.

Chicago - Sufjan Stevens

Created fifty years ago, this collective has stayed true to its mission to enrich the heritage of the Bulgarian solo folk song by highlighting its beautiful timbres and irregular rhythms.

Ergen Deda - Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares

Danyova Maika - Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares

Svatba (Encore II) - Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares

Hailing from the American aural folk tradition, and inspired by French jazz master Stephane Grappelli, Mark O&rsquo;Connor has forged a special place within the American musical landscape.&nbsp; His work with Yo-Yo Ma and Wynton Marsalis, among others, has shown him to be a true Renaissance man of the violin.&nbsp; This concert offers two of Vivaldi&rsquo;s &ldquo;Four Seasons,&rdquo; intermingled with two of Astor Piazzolla&rsquo;s &ldquo;Four Seasons&rdquo; to complete the year, and concludes with O&rsquo;Connor&rsquo;s dazzling &ldquo;American Seasons.&rdquo;
O&rsquo;Connor, an advocate for and mentor to young musicians, is joined by The Knights, a fellowship of emerging musicians from diverse and accomplished backgrounds, coming together for the shared joy of musical exploration. Known for their innovative programs consisting of classical masterworks, world premieres and arrangements of &ldquo;roots&rdquo; music such as gypsy tunes, Neapolitan love songs and dances, they join O&rsquo;Connor on the Symphony Space stage to present multiple musical perspectives on the seasons, bringing new light to old works and O&rsquo;Connor&rsquo;s new work to light.

The Four Seasons, Summer I. Allegro non moto - Antonio Vivaldi - Mark O'Connor & The Knights

The infectious pop band Bubble create the sights and sounds of the Beatles for the whole family, just in time for John Lennon's birthday. This year's performance of Magical Mystery Tour, regarded by many as one of the Beatles very best albums, recreates the album in its entirety and provides the perfect opportunity to introduce the kids to the magic and wonder of the Fab Four.
"Bubble will give you pop-band goose bumps." -Time Out New York
&nbsp;

Baby, You're a Rich Man - Bubble Do Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour

&nbsp;
Interviewed by Neil Gaiman
Selections read by Christina Pickles
Susanna Clarke discusses her remarkable debut novel, Jonathan Strange &amp; Mr. Norrell, with her fellow chronicler of the magical and bizarre, Neil Gaiman. 
&nbsp;

Play the Show  - Thalia Book Club: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell

Anne-Marie McDermott offers her only New York solo performance of select Chopin piano music, and is also joined by the compelling young mezzo-soprano Marta Wryk and renowned international cellist Rafal Jezierski for a lyrical and passionate set of cello-piano works and rarely performed songs.
"Anne-Marie McDermott has technique to burn and a fierce commitment to every note; she offers highly individual performances which none the less remain scrupulously true to the composer." - Gramophone
This performance is in honor of the bicentennial anniversary of Frederic Chopin's birth.
&nbsp;
Frederic Chopin was born to a French father and Polish mother near Warsaw, Poland in 1810 and began performing and composing at a very young age. His first composition was written at age seven. He began growing in popularity outside Poland in 1830, after the publishing of his Variations, Op. 2, for piano and orchestra on Mozart's "La ci darem la mano." The work prompted contemporary composer Robert Schumann to declare him "a genius." Chopin left Poland soon thereafter for Paris, France. He debuted on February 26, 1832 at the age of 21 to an audience that included Franz Liszt, Felix Mendelssohn and Luigi Cherubini.
Chopin composed almost exclusively for piano. His catalogue is one the most profound and influential ever written for the instrument. His legacy includes 20 nocturnes, 25 preludes, 17 waltzes, 15 polonaises, 58 mazukas and 27 etudes. Chopin died on October 17, 1849 in Paris at the unfortunate young age of 39. 
&nbsp;

1. Mazurka in B flat Major op. 17 No. 1 - A Singular Chopin Recital

Tonight&rsquo;s concert, Jazz Greats of the Upper West Side, is the culmination of Symphony Space&rsquo;s two-week celebration, Upper West Fest. This annual spring festival, sponsored by Zabar&rsquo;s celebrates the artists and cultural institutions of the Upper West Side. Featuring: Being a West-Sider myself, I know there are hundreds of great jazz performers who are or have been my neighbors. As a producer of jazz music, I also know what talented and exciting musicians they are. When I heard that the celebration was being sponsored by Zabar&rsquo;s, and since Stanly Zabar and I were classmates in high school, I immediately saw an opportunity to showcase the great artistry of some of my musicians friends. I called Stanley, and within a couple of days I was talking to the Executive Director of Symphony Space, Cynthia Elliott, who informed me that I was now charged with producing the benefit concert! We are delighted to have Harry Belafonte hosting this event and are privileged to honor long-time West-Sider and one of the greatest jazz drummers of all time, Max Roach. I am thrilled to tell you that I have assembled an all-star cast including most of the reed section of The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra &ndash; Walter Blanding Jr., Ted Nash, and Joe Temperley &ndash; supported by a rhythm section that includes bassist, composer and vocalist Jay Leonhardt, drummer Eddie Locke, and pianist Richard Wyands. Also appearing are Lew Tabackin, with drummer Mark Taylor and bassist Boris Kozlov. And two long-time West-siders and great guitarists &ndash; Peter Bernstein and jack Wilkins &ndash; along with saxophonist Jerry Dodgion and vocalist Jay Clayton, will help to make the evening extraordinary. As a special treat, making Symphony Space debut will be &ldquo;far West-Sider&rdquo; (California. Actually) &ndash; pianist Roger Kellaway, the composer of Come to the Meadow, theme music for Selected Shorts, Symphony Space&rsquo;s signature literature program. Thank you for supporting Symphony Space by joining us for this wonderful evening of celebration, recognition and, most importantly, Jazz.
Sincerely yours, Paul J. Weinstein

Saxophone Solo - Jazz Greats of the Upper West Side

Through their exploration of jazz, classical, American vernacular, and world music styles, the Turtle Island Quartet has taken its audiences on a journey through many musical genres, eras, and places &ndash; the American landscape, Latin America, Europe, and India to name a few. Now the two time GRAMMY&reg;-winning quartet ventures to Electric Ladyland, tackling works by legendary guitarist, songwriter and performer Jimi Hendrix, as well as other compositions reflective of and inspired by Hendrix&rsquo;s music including TIQ founder David Balakrishnan&rsquo;s new composition &ldquo;Tree of Life.&rdquo;
In addition to a suite of four Hendrix pieces taken from his seminal Electric Ladyland album, other highlights include a solo cello rendition of Hendrix&rsquo;s &ldquo;Little Wing,&rdquo; by co-founder/cellist Mark Summer, &ldquo;To Bop Or Not To Be&rdquo; by English jazz fusion guitarist/composer John McLaughlin (who famously jammed with Hendrix the year before he died), and the Hendrix version of &ldquo;Hey Joe,&rdquo; given a slower, more ballad-like treatment but still with a rock beat. The four movement string quartet version of &ldquo;Tree Of Life&rdquo; uses the Darwinian archetype as an entry point into the signature cross-genre synthesis that has been the career defining imperative for Balakrishnan, who himself considers Jimi Hendrix to be one of his prime musical influences.

Jimi Hendrix Electric Lady Land - Turtle Island: Hendrix

This quirky title says it all! David Leisner joined by baritone Thomas Meglioranza, and the Enso String Quartet, performing Haydn, Boccherini, Bach, six Shakespeare settings by Carter, Pinkham, Sibelius, and great Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe (New York Premiere), and the world premiere of Leisner&rsquo;s A Timeless Procession.

Quintet no. 4 in D major, G. 448 - Luigi Boccherini - Guitar Plus: Bach, Shakespeare and Elephants

Young Concert Artists celebrates its 50th anniversary with over 100 superstar performers including Emanuel Ax, Borromeo Quartet, Carter Brey, Claremont Trio, Sasha Cooke, Jeremy Denk, Jupiter Quartet, Christopher O'Riley, Vassily Primakov, and many more. The marathon encompasses Bach, Stravinsky, Takemitsu, and Schoenfield, as well as favorite works including Granados' Goyescas and Mendelssohn's Octet.
In collaboration with Young Concert Artists. *This program is not available in its entirety.

32. Schumann - Piano Quintet in E flat major, Op. 44 - II. In modo d'una marcia. Un poco largamente

Rajasthan, the "land of kings" in northwestern India and home of the great Thar Desert, has one of the liveliest folk traditions in India. Its music and dance is richly varied, representing the distinctive styles of the different groups that make up this desert land. The Langas ("song givers") and Manganiyars are groups of hereditary professional musicians whose music has been supported by wealthy landlords and aristocrats for generations. Their styles and repertoires differ, shaped by the tasted of their patrons. Though both communities are made up of Muslim musicians, many of their songs are in praise of Hindu deities and celebrate Hindu festivals such as Diwali and Holi. The Manganiyar performers traditionally invoke the Hindu god Krishna and seek his blessings before beginning their recital. At one time, the Manganiyars were musicians of the Rajput courts accompanying their chiefs to war and providing them with entertainment before and after the battles. The Langas, from the Barmer district of Rajasthan, seem to have converted from Hinduism to Islam in the 17th century. Traditionally, Sufi influences prevented them from using percussion instruments; however, the Langas are versatile players of the Sindhi sarangi and the algoza double flute. The Sindhi sarangi used by the Langas is made up of four main strings, with more than twenty vibrating sympathetic strings that help to create its distinctive haunting tones. The bowing of this instrument is often supported by the sound of the ghungroos (ankles bells) that are tied to the bow to make the beat more prominent. The dances in tonight's concert come from the court tradition of Rajasthan and are performed during social ceremonies. The Kalapriya Dancers choreograph deft patterns with their hands and use movements of ghoomar. Ghoomar, a community dance of the Rajputs performed by the women of the house and traditionally out of bounds for men, uses simple swaying movements to convey the spirit of any auspicious occasion. There is an amazing grace as the skirts flare slowly while the women twirl in circles, their faces covered by the veil. The dances are performed to lyrics of the 16th century saint-poetess Meera, who sang about her spiritual love for the Lord Krishna.

Track 11 - Rupayan with the Kalapriya Dancers

Natacha Atlas will perform a roots-oriented repertoire which includes songs of Fairuz and Abdel Halim Hafez and classical versions of her own songs. The program will include selections from her most recent CD, Mish Maoul (Beggard Banquet).

Mon Amie La Rose - From Arab Roots to World Sounds: Natacha Atlas

He Hesitated - From Arab Roots to World Sounds: Natacha Atlas

Instrumental - Fado of Portugal: Ana Moura

Fado Menor - Fado of Portugal: Ana Moura

Describing themselves as "kids with beards," this Minnesota duo remind children (and their adults) of their intrinsic ability to discover, imagine, and create through music. With witty lyrics, off-the-wall humor, strong musicianship, and a unique folk/bluegrass style, prepare for a hoe-down without leaving the city.

Water Balloon - The Okee Dokee Brothers

<div id="basic_blurb_container" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">
<table class="select_inner" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="100%">
<tbody style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">
<tr style="background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">
<td style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">
<div id="basic_blurb" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">
At the next installment of the wacky debate series,&nbsp;a team including&nbsp;Hot Tub'sKristen Schaal&nbsp;(30 Rock&nbsp;and&nbsp;Flight of the Concords) and&nbsp;Kurt Braunohler(host of IFC's Bunk) face off against a team led byChristian Finnegan&nbsp;(VH1's Best Week Ever) with&nbsp;Myq Kaplan&nbsp;(Last Comic Standing) and&nbsp;Bob Powers&nbsp;(Happy Cruelty Day) in this quirky take-off on the old school debate team. Hosted by&nbsp;Matthew Love&nbsp;(Comedy Editor&nbsp;Time Out New York).
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>

Play the Show  - Uptown Showdown: Babies vs. Old People with Kristen Schaal and Kurt Braunohler

Haul Away Joe - Just Kidding: The Okee Dokee Brothers Live at Symphony Space

Kamel Daoud: The Meursault Investigation

André Laplante performs classic piano sonatas by Mozart and Beethoven alongside the colorful music of Liszt and Ravel.

Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major, Op. 81a, "Les Adieux" by Ludwig van Beethoven

Robert Sean Leonard, a Tony Award winner for “The Invention of Love” and regular on the television series “House,” talks with SELECTED SHORTS literary commentator Hannah Tinti.

Interview with Robert Sean Leonard

The Russian Lullaby - Avalon Jazz Band

“...it is not permissible that the authors of devastation should also be innocent.
It is the innocence which constitutes the crime.”

–James Baldwin

“A Letter to My Nephew” written by James Baldwin, 1962.  

Read by Christopher Jackson at Symphony Space, 2019.

Tragically still true, 2020.

Black lives matter. Unequivocally.  

We are committed to this—in thought, in action,
in our communities, in our world.

James Baldwin's "A Letter to My Nephew" performed by Christopher Jackson

Georgia Buck - The Carolina Chocolate Drops

Peze Kafé - Creole Choir Of Cuba

March On - Lakecia Benjamin And Soul Squad

Slide B - Soule Monde

Bug Juice - The Du - Rites

Hole In One - Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio

In 2016, friends Michael Ian Black and Mo Rocca joined us for a Thalia Book Club in celebration of Black's memoir Navel Gazing: True Tales of Bodies, Mostly Mine (but also my mom's, which I know sounds weird). As the book jacket warns: "You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll call your mom."

Michael Ian Black's "Navel Gazing" with Mo Rocca

Tropical Island - Asheba

Day At The  Beach - Bari Koral Family Rock Band

Enjoy the best of Symphony Space's music, literature, comedy and family shows. Listen free on your computer or mobile device. Symphony Space was founded almost 40 years ago in the belief that the arts bring people together, transcend barriers, and celebrate both our similarities and our differences. That belief remains our guiding principle and is more important now than ever. Your generosity during the Covid19 crisis will help us continue to provide great programs free of charge. Thank you for your support.

Popular tracks by Symphony Space