First Lincoln Center Experience: New York Philharmonic

I'm a sucker for iconic, architecturally-inspiring performance venues. So it was an emotional thrill to go to Lincoln Center last night, at the invitation of my season-ticket-holding friend Mary, to see my very first performance there of the New York Philharmonic. Walking into the awe-inspiring Avery Fisher Hall, watching all the gorgeous music-loving attendees, I actually felt a shiver go up my spine and my eyes got all misty-like. It's LINCOLN CENTER for goodness sake, one of the grandest cultural institutions in the world and home to the Metropolitan Opera, Film Society at Lincoln Center, New York City Ballet and more.

Beloved musical director Lorin Maazel conducted a delightful program of Brahms, including Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Op. 56a and Ein deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem), Op. 45. Now in his late 70's, Maazel miraculously conducts his orchestra without notes or music, and the musicians respond with gloriously seamless sounds. The second half of the program included a choral component, and we were treated to soprano Celena Shafter, baritone Matthias Goerne and the New York Choral Artists.

Bonus: You can listen to a recording of this performance on The New York Philharmonic This Week on WFMT Radio Network. It will be broadcast in the NYC area on June 14 on 96.3 FM WQXR.