Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

Arts & Entertainment

Free NY Philharmonic Concert Tonight At Church Of Saint John The Divine

By

John Del Signore

Published May 26, 2014

Modified May 26, 2014

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

The scene outside, where the concert is broadcast for those who didn't get in.

 

Chris Lee

By

John Del Signore

Published May 26, 2014

Modified May 26, 2014

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

If you're in the mood for a little night music later on, the New York Philharmonic will be giving its 23rd annual FREE Memorial Day Concert, a tradition that began in 1992 "as a gift to the people of New York City." And the venue is sublime: the soaring Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, which is currently adorned with these spectacular phoenix sculptures created by Chinese artist Xu Bing.

Music Director Alan Gilbert will lead the Philharmonic in Tchaikovsky’s powerful Symphony No. 5 and Nielsen’s Helios Overture. Here's a taste of the former, which is quite famous, despite Tchaikovsky himself considering it "a failure.":

The performance begins at 8 p.m., and tickets are distributed on a first come, first serve basis. A Philharmonic rep tells us that you should probably get on line by 5 p.m. to have a shot at a seat. Alternatively—and this is actually a sweet alternative—the performance will be broadcast live outside the church, on the "Pulpit Green." Bring a picnic and a blanket and stretch out like you're on the lawn at Tanglewood.

1047 Amsterdam Avenue and 112th Street.

Tagged

classical music

free concerts

New York Philharmonic

st. john the divine

John Del Signore

Twitter

Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

MORE arts-entertainment

The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?

Thanks to Dua Lipa, Kim Kardashian, Timothée Chalamet and more, the rideshare program is having a moment.

By

Lindsay Lee Wallace

Published Oct 8, 2026

Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?

If you're playing tourist in your own town, this is an in-demand option.

By

James Ramsay

Arts & Entertainment

Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?

If you're playing tourist in your own town, this is an in-demand option.

By

James Ramsay

What happens when NYC kids take lessons in rock music? Really good bands.

By

Jayson Greene

Inside a photographer's journey to visit every neighborhood in New York City

By

Sonia Rao

Banned books and Winnie the Pooh: October in NYC libraries

By

Alec Hamilton

Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .