Harmonie Ensemble/New York


Harmonie Ensemble/New York is a musical organization based in New York City that performs and records an eclectic repertoire ranging from classical to jazz. Founded in 1979 by its conductor, Steven Richman, HE/NY has performed orchestra, chamber orchestra, symphonic jazz, big band, chamber, and wind ensemble works in virtually all of New York's concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, Merkin Concert Hall, and St. Peter's, and throughout the United States under Columbia Artists Management. It also appears on radio and television. HE/NY has received numerous awards, including a GRAMMY Award nomination, the Classical Recording Foundation Award in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center Community Arts Project, and the WQXR Action for the Arts Award.
HE/NY has given the U.S., New York, and world premieres of works by Handel, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Nino Rota, Brahms, Copland, Mussorgsky, Grofé, and Krommer, the premiere of Dvořák's Octet-Serenade, and the first performances in more than 50 years of Gershwin’s original symphonic orchestrations at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. One of the latter events drew the largest audience in the history of Lincoln Center in Damrosch Park. HE/NY also presented the first fireworks concert at Lincoln Center, marking Handel's 300th Birthday, and a Leonard Bernstein 70th Birthday Concert, which received a letter of commendation from New York City Mayor Ed Koch.

Dvořák Day Concerts

Beginning in 1994, under Richman, the ensemble presented a series of benefit concerts to place a statue of Czech composer Antonín Dvořák in Stuyvesant Square Park, New York City, across the street from where Dvořák lived from 1892-95 while director of the National Conservatory of Music. Among the guest artists were the Guarneri String Quartet, bass-baritone William Warfield, and Czech soprano Eva Urbanová. It later presented the annual Dvořák Day Concerts featuring both American and Czech artists. On September 13, 1997, the first concert was in conjunction with the dedication of the Dvořák Statue in Stuyvesant Square Park. Featured was a performance of Symphony No. 9, “From the new world,” in St. George's Church, across the park from where it was composed at 327 E. 17th Street. The event also featured violinist Josef Suk, Dvořák's great-grandson, performing Dvořák's Sonatina for Violin and Piano, also composed in the 17th St. house. Among the many honored guests were members of the Dvořák family, the Lord Mayor of Prague, and filmmaker Milos Forman.

Aaron Copland 80th Birthday Concert

Both Steven Richman and Dean of American composers Aaron Copland conducted Harmonie Ensemble/New York at the Copland 80th Birthday Concert on Nov. 22, 1980, at New York's Symphony Space. The program was broadcast live on National Public Radio. Copland led the original 13-instrument version of Appalachian Spring and Richman conducted Copland's Music for the Theatre. A film, Copland at 80: A Self-Portrait, including the composer conducting Harmonie Ensemble/New York, has been broadcast internationally and released on video worldwide. Maestro Leonard Bernstein spoke, and was among the many prominent musical figures in attendance.

Musical Anniversary Celebration Concerts

Among the ensemble's birthday celebration concerts have been events devoted to Gershwin, Dvořák, Stravinsky, Toscanini, Handel, Bernstein, Morton Gould, Duke Ellington, Harry Burleigh, William Walton, Nino Rota, Claude Thornhill, Benny Goodman, Henry Mancini, and Gershwin's associate, Kay Swift.

Recordings

The ensemble's 14 CDs under Richman range from a Toscanini 150th Anniversary Tribute to Gershwin original orchestrations, works by Dvořák, Copland, and Stravinsky, as well as Henry Mancini’s Music From Peter Gunn,, Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn jazz band version of the Nutcracker Suite, and the Miles Davis/Gil Evans Sketches of Spain with trumpet soloist Lew Soloff. Among its recording premieres are works by Dvořák, Stravinsky, Gershwin, Grofé, Copland, and Krommer. The CDs have been issued worldwide on the Harmonia Mundi, Bridge Records, Koch, Sheffield Lab, and Music & Arts labels.

Discography (Harmonie Ensemble/New York and Dvořák Festival Orchestra)