Last year, the Park brought the arts back to NYC even with COVID-19 complicating events by hosting tons of outdoor performances, welcoming programs from the likes of the New York Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall and Jazz at Lincoln Center. It was at a time when concert halls were still mostly closed, and allowed New Yorkers to get their music fix even still.
Well now it’s back and better than ever, with events kicking off a little earlier this year — on Friday, May 27. The series of performances will feature most of those same favorites, along with additions like the New York City Opera, American Symphony Orchestra, and special contemporary dance nights with established and rising companies.
Performances are entirely free and open to the public, with no advanced tickets required this year. Also unlike last year, there will be no proof of vaccination or masking requirements, but they noted the Park will “continue to monitor and follow updated New York City and New York State COVID-19 guidelines throughout the summer as necessary.”
Besides the big-name New York institutions shared above, other performances include: the Asian American Arts Alliance, Steinway Artists, the Accordion Festival in September, Jazzmobile, the Emerging Music Festival in June and others.
And, New York City Opera singers will perform a Pride concert on June 17.
Below is the full schedule (all performances start at 7 p.m.). There are even picnic blankets you can borrow!
May/June
May 27: New York City Opera: The Barber of Seville
June 3: Contemporary Dance: Performers TBA
June 4: Contemporary Dance: Ariel Rivka Dance and Works & Process at The Guggenheim’s The Missing Element
June 10: Contemporary Dance: EMERGE125 and Ayodele Casel
June 11: Contemporary Dance: Ballet Hispánico’s Social Latin Dance Class and Music From the Sole
June 17: New York City Opera: Pride in the Park
June 24: Emerging Music Festival curated by Ad Hoc
June 25: Emerging Music Festival curated by Ad Hoc
July
July 1: Carnegie Hall Citywide: Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble
July 8: Carnegie Hall Citywide: The Baylor Project
July 15: Carnegie Hall Citywide: Squirrel Nut Zippers
July 22: Carnegie Hall Citywide: The Broadway Sinfonietta
July 23: Jazzmobile: Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band
July 28: Artist TBA
July 29: Carnegie Hall Citywide: Artist TBA
August
August 5: Artist TBA
August 12: New York City Opera: La traviata
August 19: Asian American Arts Alliance: Rafiq Bhatia and Ian Chang
August 26: Habibi Festival with Joe’s Pub: Esraa Warda, Firas Zreik, Yacine Boularès, and AJOYO
August 29: The Town Hall: Eighth Blackbird Celebrates John Cage
September
September 2: New York City Opera: Lucia di Lammermoor
September 8: Steinway Artists Aaron Diehl and Orrin Evans
September 9: Classical Theatre of Harlem
September 16: Accordion Festival: Heart of Afghanistan and More
September 17: American Symphony Orchestra
Over 20 of these performances will also be available to livestream if you can’t make it in person.
See their website for any further details. We can’t wait!