Concerts
Dalibor
“Smashing.” —BroadwayWorld “Smetana’s Dalibor stuns at Bard.” —Bachtrack “Impressive. Dramatic. Ingenious. The American Symphony Orchestra was in excellent form under Leon Botstein.” —The Wall Street Journal “This Bard production, led by Leon Botstein, makes the strongest possible case musically, dramatically, and visually for Smetana’s opera Dalibor.” —Parterre Box Experience the gripping drama of Bedřich Smetana’s Dalibor, a powerful Czech opera that weaves themes…
Read MoreNew York Profiles
Performed live at Bryant Park on September 12, 2025, New York Profiles showcases five American composers whose works reflect the diverse musical styles of mid-20th-century America. Each of these composers had strong ties to New York, a city that was central to their creative lives. A full livestream of the concert is available to watch…
Read MoreThe Music of Louis Armstrong (Jazz Ensemble) at Bryant Park Upper Terrace
ASO’s jazz ensemble has performed numerous concerts dedicated to the great jazz composers of both the past and present, including Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Chick Corea, Count Basie, Charles Mingus, and many others. The ensemble’s next program will honor jazz trumpet virtuoso, and innovator, Louis Armstrong. The legendary artist was also composer of more than…
Read MoreChamber Ensemble at Bryant Park Upper Terrace
Following a 2023 commission for the ASO’s Chamber Series, percussionist-composer Javier Diaz curates “Contrapunto Musical”: Musical Counterpoint between Cuba and the United States, a selection of chamber music programs that highlight the rich musical history of Cuba and its influence on American concert music and culture, from the turn of the twentieth century through today.…
Read MoreDalibor at Bard SummerScape
Experience the gripping drama of Bedřich Smetana’s Dalibor, a powerful Czech opera that weaves themes of revenge, love, and fate. Set against a backdrop of medieval intrigue, Dalibor follows its titular tragic hero as he faces a desperate struggle for redemption. With sweeping orchestral music and unforgettable arias, Dalibor captivates with its emotional depth and stirring melodies. Director Jean-Romain Vesperini…
Read MoreBard Music Festival — Program 9
PROGRAM NINE: The Epic Power of Tradition This program comprises choral and orchestral music by Martinů and perhaps his finest student, Moravia’s Jan Novák. Set to his own Latin text, Novák’s moving cantata Ignis pro Ioanne Palach commemorates a desperate young activist who immolated himself to protest the end of the Prague Spring. As a former professional…
Read MoreBard Music Festival — Program 11
“Leon Botstein, the conductor and tireless champion of overlooked works, considers Julietta an operatic masterpiece that at least deserves a place in the repertory…He has done his part by bringing a worthy and original opera to attention.” —The New York Times PROGRAM ELEVEN: The Opera of Dreams: Martinů’s Julietta Many consider Martinů’s eighth opera to be his finest…
Read MoreNew York Profiles
In what has become a cherished tradition, the American Symphony Orchestra is pleased to debut our 2025-2026 season as part of Bryant Park’s Picnic Performances series. New York Profiles will showcase five American composers whose works reflect the diverse musical styles of mid-20th-century America. Each of these composers had strong ties to New York, a city…
Read MoreNew York Profiles
The American Symphony Orchestra returns to Kupferberg Center for the Arts with New York Profiles, a concert celebrating five influential American composers whose work helped define the sound of mid-20th-century America. Each composer had deep ties to New York City, a place that shaped their creative lives and musical legacies. Aaron Copland, a defining voice of American music,…
Read MoreString Quartet at Minor Memorial Library
A string quartet of American Symphony Orchestra musicians performs works by Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, William Grant Still, and Antonín Dvořák, each reflecting a unique perspective on the American musical experience. Perkinson’s String Quartet No. 1 blends classical form with elements of jazz—a truly American genre—reflecting the vibrancy and depth of Black American music. Still’s Lyric Quartette…
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