The New York Philharmonic may be going through a few changes—with Alan Gilbert’s planned departure, president Matthew VanBesien’s unexpected resignation, and Lincoln Center’s redevelopment—but some things remain unchanged. And one of these things is the occupant of the Mr. and Mrs. Frederick P. Rose chair—a seat that principal violist Cynthia Phelps has called home for 25 years. To celebrate the milestone anniversary, the NY Phil and the League of American Orchestras co-commissioned a dazzling, edgy new viola concerto by Julia Adophe.
The 20-minute long concerto had its world premiere on July 16, 2016, in Greensboro, North Carolina, at the Eastern Music Festival, under the baton of Gerard Schwarz with the Festival Orchestra. Adolphe says of the terse, kaleidoscopic score, “journeys through shifting relationships between the viola and the orchestra . . . taking on the entire orchestra single-handedly, hovering in a distant sonic landscape . . .”
The New York premiere, November 17–19, was conducted by Jaap van Zweden, who takes the baton from Alan Gilbert officially during the 2018–19 season. The performances served as his debut in his role as music director. The program consisted of the New York premiere of Unearth, Release, sandwiched between music by Wagner and Tchaikovsky.
I caught up by phone with Phelps before the New York performance in mid-August, at her New Jersey home across the George Washington Bridge from Manhattan.
And your wonderful viola is . . .?
My viola is still a Gaspar da Salo made between 1560 and 1580, and owned by the New York Philharmonic. It has a big, very specific sound that I love. It’s strung with Jargar A and D, and Pirastro’s Evah Pirazzi C and G. I’m so lucky to play on it.