By: ZOE HAN
The Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center, formerly known as the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, has embarked on its first season under a new name and leadership. This rebranded ensemble, led by Jonathon Heyward, is part of Lincoln Center’s annual Summer for the City festival from July 20 to August 10, 2024.
Heyward, who also serves as the Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, brings a fresh perspective to the group by blending classical favorites with contemporary works. The upcoming season’s lineup features a mix of timeless pieces by Beethoven, Mozart, and Brahms alongside modern compositions by Louis W. Ballard, Peter Lieberson, Caroline Shaw, and Hannah Kendall.
He states, “This orchestra’s history is one I admire greatly, both from the perspective of its place in the hearts of so many New Yorkers who have found classical music through its summer performances and the incredible joy, care, and skill the musicians bring to the stage.”
The concert opened with the North American premiere of Huang Ruo’s “City of Floating Sounds,” a unique piece that integrates technology, allowing audiences to interact with the music via a mobile app before experiencing the live performance. This creative approach demonstrates Heyward’s vision: respecting classical music traditions while pioneering distinctive performances.
A key feature of the season is the exploration of the relationship between music and mental health, highlighted in the final performances. These concerts will showcase the world premiere of Hannah Kendall’s piece, “He Stretches Out the North Over the Void and Hangs the Earth on Nothing,” a work commissioned by Lincoln Center and Musikkollegium Winterthur. Additionally, the musicians will perform Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 2, a composition deeply influenced by Schumann’s personal battle with mental health challenges.
The summer of the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center under Jonathon Heyward’s direction marks a significant evolution in its history. By meshing classical masterpieces with contemporary compositions and utilizing innovative technology, the orchestra hopes to evolve the future of musical composition.