Press Release

June 11, 2026

For Immediate Release

The Naumburg Orchestral Concerts presents The Knights and violinist Tessa Lark on June 23

Program celebrates America's 250th anniversary showcasing the power and beauty of American music

Highlights include NY premiere of Lisa Bielawa's violin concerto PULSE and Caroline Shaw's "The Mountain That Loved a Bird" narrated by Jamie Bernstein

On Tuesday, June 23 at 7:30 pm, Naumburg Orchestral Concerts continues its 2026 season with The Knights and violinist Tessa Lark at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park (mid-park at 72nd St.). The concert is free and will be broadcast live and streamed on WQXR.

The program features the NY premiere of Lisa Bielawa's violin concerto PULSE with Naumburg Competition winner and Grammy-nominated soloist Tessa Lark. The work weaves hymns and fiddle tunes into a bold, modern concerto. Other program highlights include Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings," Christina Courtin's "rhapsody on being giant proof" - part of The Knights' multi-year Rhapsody commissioning project, inspired by the centennial of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue - and Caroline Shaw's "The Mountain That Loved a Bird," narrated by Jamie Bernstein.

The Knights and Christina Courtin perform Courtin's "Bouquet"

The season continues on July 7 with the NYC debut of LA's Delirium Musicum directed by violinist Etienne Gara. The program features music by Saint-Saëns, Gabriella Smith, Richter, Schubert, and more.

Concerts at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park continue through August 4. Performers include Orchestra of St. Luke's with mezzo-soprano Erin Wagner, and Nosky's Baroque Band with trumpet soloist Steve Marquardt. Full program details are below. Digital press kit available here.

Relive opening night: audio on demand on WQXR.org

Naumburg Orchestral Concerts' opening night show with pianist Simone Dinnerstein and her string orchestra Baroklyn with the CONCORA choir, is now available to stream on demand from WQXR. The fantastic program features music by Bach and Philip Glass. Listen here.

Tuesday, June 23 at 7:30 pm

The Knights

Colin & Eric Jacobsen, artistic directors

Tessa Lark, Violin (Walter W. Naumburg Int’l Competition Winner 2012) 

at the Naumburg Bandshell on the Concert Ground

Central Park (72nd St, mid-park)

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PROGRAM

Lisa Bielawa: Violin Concerto No. 2: PULSE

Tessa Lark, violin

Samuel Barber: Adagio for Strings

Christina Courtin rhapsody on being giant proof

Christina Courtin, violin & vocals

Caroline Shaw: The Mountain That Loved a Bird

Jamie Bernstein, narrator

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Admission is free and reservations are not needed.

Visit naumburgconcerts.org for more information and programs.

Press kit available here.

July 7: Delirium Musicum (NYC debut)

Etienne Gara, music director & violinist 

Zoltán Kodály: Intermezzo from Háry János Suite*

Camille Saint-Saëns: Danse Macabre*

Gabriella Smith: Cactus-Yucca Scrub from Desert Ecology

Erik Satie: Gnossienne N.1*

Max Richter: Summer from The Four Seasons Recomposed

Philip Glass: Echorus

Franz Schubert: Erlkönig*

Jessie Montgomery: Banner for Solo String Quartet & String Orchestra

Antonio Vivaldi: Winter from The Four Seasons, Op 8 No.4, RV 297

*arranged for Delirium Musicum by Gianluca Bersanetti

July 21: Orchestra of St. Luke's

Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Brad Lubman, conductor

Erin Wagner, mezzo-soprano (Walter W. Naumburg Int’l Competition Winner 2021)

All works by W.A. Mozart

Divertimento in D major K. 136

Adagio and Fugue in C minor K. 546 

Alma grande e nobil core, K.578

Vado, me dove?, K. 583

Voi che sapete from Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492

Porgi amor, from Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492

Tutte nel cor vi sento, from Idomeneo, K. 366

Symphony No. 21 in A major K. 134

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik K. 525

August 4: Nosky’s Baroque Band

Aisslinn Nosky, director & violin soloist
Steve Marquardt, trumpet soloist

Giuseppe Torelli: Trumpet Concerto in D (Roger 188) 

Arcangelo Corell: Concerto Grosso, Op. 6, No. 10

Giuseppe Torelli: Violin Concerto Op. 8, No. 9 in e minor 

G. P. Telemann: Burlesque de Quixotte Suite TWV 55:G10

J.S. Bach: Violin Concerto BWV 1052r

G. P. Telemann: Concerto TWV 53:D5 for trumpet & strings

Since 1905, the Naumburg Orchestral Concerts has continuously presented free, outdoor classical music concerts to New Yorkers of all walks of life. It is the oldest such concert series in the world. Named after founder and philanthropist Elkan Naumburg, who donated the Naumburg Bandshell to New York City in 1923, and inspired by his own ardent love of music, the series seeks to stimulate and encourage new and expanded audiences for classical music in the informal and beautiful setting of Central Park.