Washington Square Music Festival 59th Season Tuesdays in June, First Concert June 6

Lutz-Rath-conducts-Washington-Square_Music-Festival

The Washington Square Music Festival has become renowned for the concerts produced at its namesake park for 59 years this season. It is hard to imagine what the park looked like in those early years. Since 2011, the Festival has appeared on the Bloomberg-era redesigned stage, which replaced the much-appreciated “Teen Plaza” elevated stage; the new one, among other things, does not provide adequate staging or shade on hot days, but they have made it work as best they can.

The new festival season starts Tuesday, June 6th and continues Tuesdays throughout June under the direction of longtime Executive Director Peggy Friedman and Music Director Lutz Rath.

The free concerts begin at 8 p.m. on the Garibaldi Plaza Stage (east of fountain) and are presented under the “auspices” of the Washington Square Association. Seating is first come, first served.

More about the 59th season of the Washington Square Music Festival:

June 6, 8 p.m.:

The Festival Chamber Orchestra conducted by Lutz Rath

Georges Bizet: Overture to Carmen

Carl Orff: Carmina Burana, world premiere of transcription by Charles Kiger.

Soloists: Ariadne Greif, soprano; Lindell O. Carter, tenor; Michael Kelly, baritone & The Stonewall Chorale, the nation’s first LGBT chorus

Rainspace: Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South

June 13, 8 p.m.:

The Festival Chamber Ensemble conducted by Lutz Rath
With Mélanie Genin, harp soloist

Peter von Winter: Sinfonia Concertante for violin, clarinet, horn and bassoon
W.A. Mozart Concerto for Harp and Flute K.298/297 (oboe arrangement); Gerard Reuters, oboe
Gabriel Fauré Impromptu for harp op 86
Maurice Ravel: Introduction and Allegro for harp, flute, clarinet, string quartet.

Rainspace: Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South

June 20, 8 p.m.:

The Festival Chamber Ensemble, with soprano soloist Ariadne Greif

W.A. Mozart: Horn Quintet K 407
Arnold Schoenberg “Verklaerte Nacht” (Transfigured Night)
Andante for soprano & string sextet
Anton von Webern “Langsamer Satz” for soprano & string quartet
Luigi Boccherini: Quintet #1 in G Major, for flute and strings, G 438

Rainspace: NYU School of Law, Tishman Auditorium, 40 Washington Square South

June 27, 8 p.m.:

Mostly Argentinian: Tango and Jazz
with JP Jofre, bandoneon and nine piece band

Rainspace: NYU School of Law, Tishman Auditorium, 40 Washington Square South

* * *
Learn more at the website of the Washington Square Music Festival.

Photo: Sally J. Bair

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