The New Mexico Philharmonic's Executive Director is Marian Tanau. The Romanian-born Tanau has played the violin since the age of four, and he is the founder, president and executive director of the American Romanian Music Festival.
The New Mexico Philharmonic Orchestra's begins its 2012-2013 season September 8. The New Mexico Philharmonic rotates concerts with guest conductors.
Performances begin at 6 p.m. unless noted otherwise. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling UNM Ticket services at (505) 925-5858. They can also be purchased at UNM ticketing offices.
2012 - 2013 Season Schedule
Pops Series
- Dave Bennett's Tribute to Benny Goodman, Saturday, September 8, Popejoy Hall
- Charlie Chaplin at the Symphony with mime Dan Kamin, Saturday, October 13, Kiva Auditorium
- Holiday Joy, December 15, Popejoy Hall
- Celebrate Valentine's Day, with Ann Hampton Callaway, Saturday, February 9, Popejoy Hall
- The Music of ABBA, with Arrival from Sweden, Saturday, April 6, Kiva Auditorium
Classical Series
The Classical concerts take place at 6 p.m. at Popejoy Hall.
- Mahler's Resurrection Symphony with the New Mexico Symphonic Chorus, September 15
- Verdi and Elgar, Saturday, November 10
- Wagner, Mendelssohn and Prokofiev, Saturday, January 19
- Ravel and Rachmaninoff, Saturday, March 9
- Sibelius and Shostakovich, Saturday, March 23
- Russian Masterworks: Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov, Saturday, April 13
- Season Finale: Copland, Debussy and Stravinsky in a celebration of sping, Saturday, April 27
Sunday Afternoons at the National Hispanic Cultural Center
The New Mexico Philharmonic will perform at the National Hispanic Cultural Center for eight Sunday afternoon concerts. Concerts take place at 2 p.m.
- Mahler's Resurrection, September 16
- Afternoon of Bach with two time winner of the Bach Competition, Sean Duggan, on piano, September 23
- Verdi's La Forza del destino, Elgar's Enigma Variations and Brahms' Requiem, November 11
- Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet with the New Mexico Ballet Company, January 13
- Christopher Confessore will conduct a program featuring Craft's From a Distant Mesa and Dvorak's Symphony No. 7
- Mendelssohn's Hibrides Overture, along with Beethoven and Shostakovich conducted by David Felberg and accompanied by 11-year old prodigy Ishan Loomba, February 10
- Rossini's Barber of Seville, along with Mozart and Schubert, March 3
- Mozart and Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3, April 7
Special Performances
- Pulse concert: Changing the World, September 30
A special show at the KiMo Theatre will bring together New Mexico musicians, composers and filmmakers for a unique event that asks the question, "How would you like to change the world?" The Pulse Concert is the answer in the form of a collaboration with musicians, composers and films. A video project with local high school students will be screened at this show. - Nutcracker Ballet, November 24 - December 2
The New Mexico Ballet Company will perform Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker with the New Mexico Philharmonic providing the holiday music. See the shows at Popejoy Hall.
Neighborhood Concerts
- Saint-Saens Organ Symphony, October 14
- Handel's Messiah, December 8 and 9
- Mozart and Bizet, February 2
- Mozart, Beethoven and the McGehee competition winners
- Bach's St. John Passion, with the Polyphony choir, March 15 and 17
The orchestra will also perform some post-season concerts at the Zoo. Information will be posted as it is announced.
- May 12 at the Zoo, the annual Mother's Day concert, which is free with zoo admission. The concert will feature the young Jackie McGeehee competition winners.
- The Memorial Day concert, May 27 at the Zoo.
History and Background
The Philharmonic musicians were in the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra (NMSO) until it filed for bankruptcy on May 10, 2011. Like many national orchestras, the economic times have created changes in the classical music world, but as in other cities, restructuring has allowed for new organizations to be born. The NMSO had been an orchestra for 77 years.
The musicians of the former NMSO announced the formation of a new orchestra, the New Mexico Philharmonic (NMP) on May 11, 2011, one day after the NMSO board legally filed for bankruptcy. The NMP is a non-profit organization. The Symphony Audience Association of New Mexico has been instrumental in helping the NMP get its start.
First Performances
Despite the dissolution of the NMSO, the NMP has looked to the future with continued live performances:
- On April 30, 2011, their Popejoy Hall concert "Ode to Joy: Celebrating Symphonic Music in New Mexico" sold out.
- A fundraising gala at the downtown KiMo Theatre on May 27, 2011.
- A full evening concert at the Albuquerque Zoo on May 28, 2011.
Funds from the events and efforts of the musicians and audience association have since made the purchase of the NMSO music library a possibility. The music library is an orchestra's main asset, and the music contained the markings and notes made by musicians in earlier performances. The continuity provides a rich history for the musicians. The library contains over 1,100 works which range from pops and standard repertoire to more obscure works and commissions. Having the library allows the NMP to have a head start on creating musical performances.
With its library in place, the NMP has announced it is ready to begin its first season of performances. Albuquerque welcomes them back to the stage.
The New Mexico Philharmonic is a non-profit corporation recognized as a charitable 501c(3); contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by the IRS. To learn more about upcoming performances or to become a volunteer, visit the NM Philharmonic's website.
New Mexico Philharmonic
P.O. Box 21428
Albuquerque, NM 87154
(505) 323-4343
info@nmphil.org
