The New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra (NASO) will kick off its 50th anniversary season on a dramatic note—with a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony!
The concert takes place on Friday, Nov. 14, 8:00 p.m., at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street. NASO welcomes back guest conductor Matthew Oberstein and is joined by the West Village Chorale, led by Artistic Director Colin Britt. The soloists are Michelle Trovato, soprano; Lucia Bradford, mezzo-soprano; Nicholas Simpson, tenor; and Eric Luis Viñas, baritone.
Founded in New York City in 1976 by six musicians, NASO includes professional, semi-professional, and avocational players of diverse ages, ethnic, racial, and professional backgrounds. The primary goal of NASO is to seek out and showcase outstanding musicians and provide them with the much-coveted opportunity to perform with a symphony orchestra in New York City. Over the past 50 years, NASO has provided conducting opportunities for young conductors, several of whom have gone on to prominent positions in the music world. Conductors who have led the New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra in the early years of their careers include George Manahan, Kimbo Ishii Eto, Eckart Preu, Alondra de la Parra, and Gemma New.
Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, which premiered 201 years ago, is “unquestionably the greatest of all symphonies,” according to Frederick Stock, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra‘s second music director. He regarded the Ninth, one of the first choral symphonies, as “the final résumé of all of Beethoven’s achievements."
Matthew Oberstein has previously conducted some of NASO’s most ambitious and popular concerts, including those featuring Brahms’ German Requiem, Copland’s Lincoln Portrait (with B.D. Wong as narrator), Gershwin’s American in Paris, and movie music from Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, and E.T. He served as music director and conductor with the Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey from May 2012 to May 2023, and he has also held artistic and production management positions with the Westchester Philharmonic and Purchase Symphony Orchestra. A seasoned professional in the performing arts industry, he currently serves as senior vice president at Opus 3 Artists.
Founded in 1971, the West Village Chorale is an avocational ensemble based out of Judson Memorial Church. Now in his eighth season as the Chorale’s artistic director and conductor, Colin Britt also serves as director of choral activities at Mount Holyoke College.
Tickets Website: http://www.symphonyspace.org/event/567403/Music/vp-new-amsterdam-symphony-orchestra-14
More information: http://nasorch.org/november-14-2025/
When?
Friday, November 14, 2025, 8 p.m. EST
Where?
Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street