NY Philharmonic's Memorial Day concert series honors veterans and reflects on pandemic-interrupted tenure
- The New York Philharmonic continues its tradition of holding a free Memorial Day concert at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine
- Departing music director Jaap van Zweden reflects on reshaping the ensemble amidst a pandemic-interrupted tenure
- The concert series serves as a tribute to those who served and a reflection on the challenges faced during the pandemic
Jaap van Zweden came to the New York Philharmonic as its music director with a goal to change things. Now, as he is leaving, he is reflecting on his time there, which was affected by the pandemic. He will conduct his final concerts this summer. On a nice spring morning, Jaap van Zweden had breakfast at a fancy hotel in Manhattan. He then packed his conducting batons and music scores and headed to Lincoln Center through Central Park. He loves the freedom he feels in nature. Van Zweden, who is 63 years old, will be leaving the New York Philharmonic after being its music director for six seasons. This is the shortest time any director has stayed since the 1970s. He helped the orchestra during the pandemic, guided them through a tough season when their home was being renovated, and led them to reopen the hall earlier than expected. During the pandemic, he spent over a year in the Netherlands, which made it hard for him to connect with the orchestra. He believes he faced bigger challenges than any other music director before him. He thinks they are still getting to know each other well. The New York Philharmonic is known for its free Memorial Day concert at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine.