NY Phil Spring Gala with Gustavo Dudamel

• Common, voice
• Hera Hyesang Park, soprano
• Bernie Williams, guitar
• Gustavo Dudamel, conductor

Nina Shekhar — The Mother is Standing (NY premiere)
Heitor Villa-Lobos — Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5, W. 389 (arr. for soprano & orchestra of violoncelli)
Arturo Márquez — Danzón No. 8
Bernie Williams — Moving Forward (arr. Jeff Tyzik)
Common — Selected works
Richard Strauss — Suite from Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59

Please note: This event is currently sold out.

Gustavo Dudamel, the New York Philharmonic's next Music and Artistic Director, leads the Orchestra in a program that celebrates the past, present, and future of music education. Artist, actor, author, and activist Common; soprano Hera Hyesang Park; and guitarist and former New York Yankees center fielder Bernie Williams take turns in the spotlight. The NY Phil musicians perform several works side-by-side with student musicians from communities across New York City.

Enhance your experience: Join us for a pre-concert reception, receive prime concert seating, and enjoy a festive dinner with the artists on the Leon and Norma Hess Grand Promenade. More information: https://nyphil.org/springgala

About New York Philharmonic

https://nyphil.org/

About Common, voice

Academy Award, Emmy, and Grammy–winning artist, actor, author, and activist Common continues to break down barriers through a multitude of critically acclaimed roles, and continued success in all aspects of his career. Common can be seen starring in Apple TV+'s Silo as Robert Sims. In the winter of 2023-24, he made his Broadway debut playing Junior in Between Riverside and Crazy. His latest album, A Beautiful Revolution Part 2, was released in September 2021 and served as an inspiring follow-up to his previous album, A Beautiful Revolution Part 1, released in March 2020. His 2019 hit album Let Love was inspired by his work and experiences writing his New York Times–bestselling second memoir, Let Love Have the Last Word.

https://www.thinkcommon.com/

About Hera Hyesang Park, soprano

Hera Hyesang Park is an exclusive Deutsche Grammophon recording artist working with orchestras and opera houses worldwide. The Korean soprano has made house and role debuts as Adina in Donizetti's The Elixir of Love (at Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin), Despina in Mozart's Così fan tutte (Bavarian Staatsoper and Glyndebourne Festival), Musetta in Puccini's La bohème (Komische Oper), Juliette in Gounod’s Roméo et Julliette (Korean National Opera), and Pamina in Mozart's The Magic Flute (Teatro Colón Buenos Aires). Her concert appearances have included Brahms's Ein deutsches Requiem at Carnegie Hall, Mahler's Symphony No. 4 with the Naples Philharmonic and San Diego Symphony, Handel's Acis and Galatea at Tanglewood and Caramoor with Philharmonia Baroque, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with the Seoul Philharmonic, and recitals at Vocal Arts DC, Alice Tully Hall, Friends of Chamber Music Miami, Montreal's Bourgie Hall, and Madrid's Auditorio Nacional de Música.

https://herahyesangpark.com/

About Bernie Williams, guitar

Bernie Williams is a former professional baseball player and now a musician, composer, and philanthropist. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, he was signed by the New York Yankees in 1987. After working his way through the farm system, the switch-hitting Williams made his Major League debut with the Yankees in May 1991. In his 16-year career with the team Williams was a four-time World Series Champion and a five-time All-Star. He is among the Yankees' all-time leaders in every major batting category, standing alongside legends such as Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, and Joe DiMaggio. In 2015 the Yankees retired Williams's uniform number 51, and dedicated and placed a plaque in Monument Park in Yankee Stadium.

https://berniewilliams51.com/

About Gustavo Dudamel, conductor

Gustavo Dudamel is driven by the belief that music has the power to transform lives, to inspire, and to change the world. Through his dynamic presence on the podium and his tireless advocacy for arts education, he has introduced classical music to new audiences around the globe and has helped provide access to the arts for countless people in underserved communities. Dudamel currently serves as Music and Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Music Director of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra. In 2026 he becomes The Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Music and Artistic Director of the New York Philharmonic, after serving as Music Director Designate in the 2025–26 season, continuing a legacy that includes Gustav Mahler, Arturo Toscanini, and Leonard Bernstein.

https://www.gustavodudamel.com/