The Four Seasons is the most-loved piece in the violin repertoire and Bell is among its most charismatic living interpreters; hearing it in the renovated Geffen Hall, with its warm, close acoustic, is a different experience from a recording. It is the ideal first-weekend-of-the-year concert: familiar, virtuosic and under two hours. Lincoln Center's plaza is still lit for the holidays.
What to expect
Roughly 90 minutes to two hours with one intermission. Geffen Hall's wraparound seating puts the parterre behind the orchestra close to the soloist for a lower price.
Good to know
- Tickets via nyphil.org or Ticketmaster; the NY Phil offers $35 rush and young-audience discounts.
- The New Year's run also includes a Jan 2 2 PM matinee featuring principal clarinet Anthony McGill in Copland and Mozart.
- Geffen Hall is at Broadway and 65th; the 1 train at 66th St stops at the door.
- Doors open one hour before; the Sidewalk Studio and lobby bars are open pre-concert.
- Later January NY Phil highlights: Eva Ollikainen conducts Sibelius (Jan 8) and Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla's residency (Jan 21-29).
Going? Keep it.
Common questions
Does Joshua Bell conduct?
He plays and leads from the violin, directing the orchestra without a separate conductor for the Vivaldi.
How long is the concert?
About 90 minutes to two hours with intermission.