News & Reviews
Ortiz work provides the highlight in NEP’s ambitious season opener
By Maya Shwayder, Boston Classical Review
The New England Philharmonic is a talented all-volunteer orchestra. While their passion is undeniable, their resources and scale differ from larger professional ensembles.
It’s good to keep this in mind when attending a concert like NEP’s season opener, which, was well-executed and enjoyable even with a few missed moments Sunday evening at Jordan Hall.
Announcing the 2024-25 Season Featuring Collaboration with Chorus Pro Musica and Celebration of Composer-In-Residence Eric Nathan
The New England Philharmonic, led by Music Director Tianhui Ng, is excited to announce its 48th season. The season’s four performances highlight works from a diverse array of well-known and emerging contemporary composers, featuring six regional premieres.
Sandström “Messiah” can’t hold a candle to Handel
By Jonathan Blumhofer, Boston Classical Review
George Frideric Handel’s Messiah isn’t the only oratorio about the life of Christ: in addition to the Bach Passions, there are, among others, Berlioz’s L’enfance du Christ, Liszt’s Christus, and Richard Danielpour’s The Passion of Yeshua. But until 2009, the Baroque icon was the only one to set a libretto on the subject by Charles Jennens.
New England Philharmonic Announces Contract Extension of Composer-In-Residence, Eric Nathan
The New England Philharmonic (NEP) announces the contract extension of Eric Nathan as Composer-In-Residence. This final contract extension will conclude at the end of the 2024 - 2025 season, finishing Nathan’s six years tenure in the role. Throughout his tenure as Composer-in-Residence, Nathan has engaged with the orchestra in a wide range of capacities — as a composer, conductor, performer, interviewer and artistic advisor.
Philharmonic’s new classical music initiative shines light on New England composers
By Sara Creato, The Daily Free Press
The violins whined, the trumpets groaned and the electric harpsichord twinkled. With delicate flicks of his baton in upwards, downwards and circular motions, the conductor controlled the orchestra. A musician at the back of the stage struck a drum, inviting a jolting sound, but the disruption is a choreographed aspect of the piece.
New Music New England: Amplifying Contemporary Classical Composers at Boston University
By Salman Khan, The People’s Network
The New England Philharmonic introduced its latest venture, New Music New England, with a vibrant concert at Boston University's Tsai Performance Center on March 3. This inaugural event celebrated composer John Harbison's 85th birthday and aimed to spotlight New England composers by curating performances of their work. Under the leadership of Music Director Tianhui Ng, the concert featured five orchestral pieces, including the local premiere of Wang Lu's "Surge" and a performance by Grammy Award-winning organist Paul Jacobs.
New England Philharmonic program offers a fresh vision of familiar vistas
By Katherine Horgan, Boston Classical Review
The New England Philharmonic offered a typically bracing program on the theme of New England at Boston University’s Tsai Performance Center on Sunday afternoon. In its exploration of local landscapes and composers, the program cast the familiar in a new light.
New England Philharmonic Announces Winner of 2024 Call for Scores Competition
For the 39th annual Call for Scores, the New England Philharmonic selected Bobby Ge’s composition Remember to Have Fun as the winning work, which will be performed by the NEP in the 2024-25 season.
New England Philharmonic’s family concert nicely varies the holiday mix
By Jonathan Blumhofer, Boston Classical Review
Most of the time, the New England Philharmonic sticks with the new or recent; when they veer from that formula, it’s typically for a good reason.
One of those came along Sunday afternoon in the form of “Music and Mystery,” the orchestra’s annual family concert at Boston University’s Tsai Performance Center.
A Boston Weekend of Rach and Bach
By Emery Kerekes, SF Classical Voice
The NEP programming model is irresistible. Every concert contains one or two chestnut works of the orchestral canon flanked by music new to Boston, New England, and the world. It’s an unprecedented template for a volunteer orchestra, garnering several nods from ASCAP’s prestigious Awards for Adventurous Programming.
New England Philharmonic serves up dances, old and new, in a program of premieres
By Stephanie Oestreich, Boston Classical Review
Tianhui Ng led the New England Philharmonic (NEP) through a complex yet intriguing series of world premieres and symphonic dances Saturday night at Jordan Hall. This program juxtaposed contemporary and established composers in an audacious yet successful fashion.
Dashing from Sanders to Jordan Hall
By BMINT STAFF, Boston Musical Intelligencer
Matthew Aucoin, an American composer, conductor, writer, pianist, MacArthur Fellowship winner, Artist-in-Residence at Los Angeles Opera and co-artistic director of the American Modern Opera Company, also has strong Boston connections. He will be in town to witness performances of two of his works virtually at the same time on February 18th when the Harvard Radcliffe Orchestra includes an orchestral suite from his opera Eurydice in its Sanders Theater concert and the New England Philharmonic plays his Two Dances. Complete information at the end.
Arts Beat: James Taylor will spend Independence Day at Tanglewood
By Mark G. Auerbach | Special to The Westfield News
New England Philharmonic music director Tianhui Ng shares music through ‘human stories’
The volunteer ensemble premieres a new piece by Medfield-raised composer Matthew Aucoin during its next concert on Feb. 18.The volunteer ensemble premieres a new piece by Medfield-raised composer Matthew Aucoin during its next concert on Feb. 18.
By A.Z. Madonna
New England Philharmonic Announces the 2022-23 Season with Newly Appointed Music Director Tianhui Ng
Boston, MA – The New England Philharmonic announces a season of four concerts under the baton of Tianhui Ng, its new Music Director. Maestro Ng and Eric Nathan, NEP Composer-in-Residence, programmed a season that features works by living composers alongside music of the past, in concerts that respond to current world events and celebrate a vibrant range of voices.
The New England Philharmonic announces Elijah Daniel Smith as the Winner of the 2022 Call for Scores Competition.
BOSTON — The New England Philharmonic is pleased to announce that Elijah Daniel Smith has been chosen as the winner of the NEP’s 37th annual Call for Scores Competition. Smith’s Wraith Weight (2021) will be performed by the NEP in the upcoming 2022 – 2023 season.
New England Philharmonic Enters New Era with Appointment of Tianhui Ng as Music Director
The NEP will begin its 46th season this fall under the leadership of a new Music Director, Tianhui Ng.