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Park Avenue Chamber Symphony’s 2025-2026 Season: IMMERSIONS AND EXPLORATIONS

The internationally acclaimed Park Avenue Chamber Symphony has announced its 2025-26 season of immersive concert events powered by the Patented InsideOut Concerts® format. For the 2025-2026 season, Maestro David Bernard has selected programs that focus on a single composer, offering audience members an in-depth perspective on that composer.

Step inside the music this season! Visit the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony 2025–26 Season Events page on Eventbrite to discover programs that will inspire, uplift, and transform your concert experience.

"While it is always enjoyable to hear programs that offer tastes from many composers, sometimes it feels as though we only skimmed the surface of individual composers," says Music Director David Bernard. "This season, we focus each concert on a single composer, with works selected to draw the audience into a broader and deeper perspective. Paired with our InsideOut format, it’s a total musical immersion and exploration."

Maestro Bernard’s patented InsideOut Concerts approach transforms concerts into fully immersive events that not only place audience members among the musicians but offer a unique artistic opportunity.

Maestro David Bernard conducting the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony at an InsideOut Concert at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in New York City. Photo Courtesy Park Avenue Chamber Symphony

A Season of Explorations

The 2025-26 season celebrates three towering figures of classical music through carefully curated programs that offer in-depth explorations of each composer's genius. Each program is offered in both family-friendly and full evening experiences, ensuring accessibility for music lovers of all ages.

Scintillating Saint-Saëns - November 22nd

Scintillating Saint-Saëns kicks off the season on Saturday, November 22nd, with performances at 2:00 PM (Family Experience) and 5:00 PM (Full Experience). Audiences will be transported into the exotic worlds and brilliant orchestrations of Camille Saint-Saëns, experiencing firsthand the French master's gift for melody and his revolutionary approach to orchestral color.

"The combination of Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2 and his Organ Symphony gives audiences a complete perspective on his genius. The concerto dazzles with virtuosic brilliance, beginning with what almost sounds like an organ prelude—a beautiful foreshadowing of the Organ Symphony. That symphony, in turn, is innovative, exhilarating, and emotionally sweeping. Together, these works showcase the full range of Saint-Saëns’ creativity, from intimate lyricism to monumental orchestral color." – David Bernard

Maestro David Bernard conducting the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony at an InsideOut Concert at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in New York City. Photo Courtesy Park Avenue Chamber Symphony Sublime Schubert - February 7th

Winter continues with Sublime Schubert on Saturday, February 7th (2:00 PM Family Experience and 5:00 PM Full Experience). Franz Schubert's profound emotional depth and lyrical genius will surround audiences as they discover why this composer's music continues to move hearts nearly two centuries after his passing.

"Pairing Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony with his Ninth Symphony—the Great—allows audiences to experience the full breadth of his musical imagination. The Eighth Symphony is magical, otherworldly, and strikingly innovative, while the Ninth embodies the quintessential Viennese symphonic tradition. Together, they provide a deep and comprehensive exploration of Schubert, capturing both his lyricism and his grand, architectural vision." – David Bernard

Spellbinding Strauss - May 16th

The season concludes with Spellbinding Strauss on Saturday, May 16th (2:00 PM Family Experience and Full Experience times to be announced). Whether exploring the waltzing elegance of Johann Strauss II or the dramatic power of Richard Strauss, this final celebration promises to send audiences home with melodies that linger long after the last note fades.

"The program of Don Juan, Till Eulenspiegel, and the Four Last Songs offers a thorough journey into Richard Strauss’ musical world. The works Don Juan, Till Eulenspiegel, and the Four Last Songs each demonstrate different aspects of a twentieth-century composer's range. These pieces illustrate characteristics such as dynamic character development, technical skill, reflection, and lyricism, offering insight into the emotional and stylistic diversity present in the composer’s output.  -David Bernard

In addition to these three Explorations, Maestro Bernard and the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony offer two fantastic musical events:

David Bernard leads the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony in an Immersive Concert celebration of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in New York City. Photo Courtesy Park Avenue Chamber Symphony

THE NUTCRACKER:

The InsideOut Concerts™ Experience - December 13,  2 PMEglevsky Ballet presents The Nutcracker – December 20, 1 PM and 7 PM, December 21, 2 PM

The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony offers two Nutcracker experiences. On Saturday, December 13th at 2 PM, the holiday season brings a special treat with THE NUTCRACKER: The InsideOut Concerts™ Experience for Everyone! This beloved Tchaikovsky masterpiece comes alive when experienced from within the orchestra, allowing audiences to feel the magic of the Sugar Plum Fairy's theme and the thunderous excitement of the battle scene as never before.

On Saturday and Sunday, December 20th and 21st, the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony joins the Eglevsky Ballet at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts for the complete ballet.

Special Music School Concerto Competition Showcase

In partnership with NYC’s Special Music School, the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony hosts a concerto showcase featuring winners of the SMS concert competition.

The Revolutionary InsideOut Concerts® Experience

What sets the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony apart is its groundbreaking InsideOut Concerts format, where traditional concert hall barriers dissolve and the audience becomes an integral part of the musical fabric itself. Seated among the musicians, concertgoers experience orchestral music with an intimacy and immediacy that has earned acclaim from WQXR, Newsday, Classical World, The Epoch Times, and the digital publication OpeningNight.Online.

"This innovative approach brings an unsurpassed experience and level of engagement for audiences of all ages," notes the orchestra's season description. The format has proven particularly effective in growing new audiences for classical music, engaging families through schools, and presenting multi-media concert presentations that make classical music accessible to contemporary audiences.

Maestro David Bernard conducting the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony at an InsideOut Concert at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in New York City. Photo Courtesy Park Avenue Chamber Symphony

Award-Winning Excellence

Since its founding in 1999, the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony has built an impressive legacy of excellence. The orchestra is a three-time FIRST PRIZE Winner of The American Prize in Orchestral Performance (2011, 2012, 2013), with judges describing their performances as "extremely impressive, well-shaped. This ensemble is good enough to surpass many professional orchestras, performing challenging repertoire on a professional level."

New York critics have consistently praised the orchestra's performances as "Triumphant...polished…exquisite…with a strong sense of style and commitment…with the depth and fervor of the old school European orchestras." This critical acclaim extends to their extensive catalog of recordings, available on iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify, which has built a loyal following both in New York City and worldwide.

Visionary Leadership

At the helm of this exceptional ensemble stands Music Director David Bernard, whose dramatic and incisive conducting has gained recognition in the United States and over 20 countries on four continents. A multiple First Prize winner of the Orchestral Conducting Competition of The American Prize, Bernard has been described by judges as "a first-rate conductor…phenomenal performance…masterly in shaping, phrasing, technique and expressivity."

Bernard's artistic leadership extends beyond the podium. He serves as Music Director of both the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony and the Massapequa Philharmonic. He is recognized as an acclaimed orchestra builder sought after for his artistic leadership and innovation in community engagement. Under his guidance, both orchestras have experienced growing audiences, expanded ensembles, and increased critical acclaim.

Maestro David Bernard conducting the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony at an InsideOut Concert at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in New York City. Photo Courtesy Park Avenue Chamber Symphony

Prestigious Performance History

The orchestra's reputation has been solidified through performances at the world's most prestigious venues. Recent highlights include a transcendent Lincoln Center performance of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, with LucidCulture noting that "Conducting from memory, David Bernard led a transcendent performance…vivid…expertly choreographed." Their Carnegie Hall performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony was praised as "taut and dramatic" by the conductor. OpeningNight.Online has praised Bernard's artistry, noting his "clear, expressive, compelling" conducting style.

Critical Recording Success

Bernard's recorded legacy has garnered enthusiastic critical praise from international publications. Gramophone Magazine lauded his Tchaikovsky Pathétique as "an impressively elegant, thoughtful, well-balanced and sophisticated Tchaikovsky Pathétique." The Arts Desk proclaimed his Beethoven Symphony No. 9 release "Scintillating Beethoven…Edge-of-the-seat playing…it's a winner: dramatic, witty, eloquent and boasting some startling choral work in the last movement."

His complete recorded Beethoven symphony cycle earned praise from Fanfare magazine for its "intensity, spontaneity, propulsive rhythm, textural clarity, dynamic control, and well-judged phrasing." Most recently, The Art Music Lounge proclaimed his premiere recording of new editions of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring and The Firebird as "THE preferred recording of The Rite because of its authenticity as well as the almost startling boldness of approach."

Accessibility and Community Engagement

True to their mission of making classical music accessible to all, the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony offers these extraordinary experiences starting from just $0.00, removing financial barriers that might prevent music lovers from attending. This commitment to accessibility reflects Bernard's innovative approach to growing new audiences for classical music through community engagement, school partnerships, and family-oriented programming.

The Art of the Immersive InsideOut Audience Experience by Conductor David Bernard and the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in New York City. Courtesy Park Avenue Chamber Symphony

Experience Music Like Never Before

The 2025-26 season represents more than just concerts; it's an invitation to experience classical music in its purest and most immediate form. When audiences sit inside the orchestra during InsideOut Concerts®, they don't just hear the music—they feel the vibrations of the double basses, witness the precise coordination between conductor and musicians, and experience the collective breathing of an ensemble creating art in real time.

This immersive approach has proven transformative for both seasoned classical music lovers and newcomers to the genre. Families discover that classical music can be interactive and engaging, while longtime enthusiasts gain new appreciation for the intricate details and collaborative nature of orchestral performance.

Looking Forward – The 2025-26 Season

As the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony embarks on its 2025-26 concert series, it continues to push boundaries while honoring classical music's greatest traditions. Each InsideOut Concert® represents a unique opportunity to witness musical mastery up close, creating memories that last a lifetime and potentially inspiring the next generation of classical music enthusiasts.

For tickets and complete season information, visit the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony 2025-26 Season Events page on Eventbrite.

Children helping Maestro Bernard conduct the Waltz of the Flowers with the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in New York City. Photo by Edward Kliszus

About the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony

Founded in 1999, the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony is a three-time FIRST PRIZE winner of The American Prize Competition in Orchestral Performance. Under the leadership of Music Director David Bernard, the orchestra has gained international recognition for its innovative programming, exceptional artistry, and revolutionary InsideOut Concerts® format, which places audiences inside the orchestra for immersive musical experiences.

Media Contact Information

Park Avenue Chamber Symphony David Bernard, Music Director 875 5th Ave, New York, NY 10065 Phone: [phone] Website: chambersymphony.com

All performances take place at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music, located at 450 West 37th Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues, in New York City.

https://youtu.be/cAKdNDfaRFY?si=S7KxeCGehqAjkDsW

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NEW YORK - Mahler's Musical Legacy: An In-Depth Interview with Maestro David Bernard on the 'Beginnings and Endings' Mahler Festival. #nymaestro #chambersymphony #massapequa_philharmonic #thedimennacenter

NEW YORK - Mahler's Musical Legacy: An In-Depth Interview with Maestro David Bernard on the 'Beginnings and Endings' Mahler FestivalThe Park Avenue Chamber Symphony (PACS) is one of New York City’s acclaimed classical ensembles, offering artistic brilliance and innovation. Led by the passionate and dynamic conductor David Bernard, PACS has long been known for its impeccable performances and recordings of classical masterworks. Similarly, Maestro Bernard leads the Massapequa Philharmonic Orchestra, Long Island’s premiere orchestra.What also sets the PACS apart is its unique and groundbreaking approach to audience engagement through its InsideOut Concerts®. In this venue, audience members sit among the orchestra’s musicians, enveloped by the instruments' sounds, while experiencing the music's power on a visceral level.

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The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony presents Romantic Reflections

NEW YORK – The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony presents Romantic ReflectionsThe Park Avenue Chamber Symphony's recent performance of Wagner's Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde and Brahms' Symphony No. 1 was a masterclass in contrasting Romantic expressions. Soprano Sara Pearson's exceptional artistry further elevated the concert. David Bernard with Soprano Sarah Beth Pearson and The Park Avenue Chamber Orchestra presenting Romantic Reflections at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music, New York, NY. Photo by Da Ping Luo.Inside Out Audience ImmersionHeld at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music, this concert showcased the orchestra's vitality and significance. Moreover, under the intuitive direction of conductor David Bernard, who employed his patented and innovative Inside Out audience immersion concept, it offered a genuinely mesmerizing learning experience.Before the orchestra performed segments of the music to illustrate its provenance and features, Bernard reminded the audience, “You know everything you need to know to enjoy this music.” As promised, Bernard’s insights, leadership, and expertise made the music vital, meaningful, and intimate.Wagnerian RomanticismThe evening began with Wagner's Prelude and Liebestod, a symbol of Wagnerian Romanticism. Bernard introduced the piece and discussed the tragic, doomed couple Tristan and Isolde. In addition, listeners delved into Wagner's revolutionary use of harmony and melodic structures, maintaining tensions that evoke profound emotional and spiritual longing.Radiant PerformanceSara Pearson's performance in the Liebestod was a highlight of the evening in a dramatic, expressive, glorious, and radiant performance with a voice characterized by luminous clarity and emotional depth. Pearson splendidly captured the substance of Isolde's transcendent love and sorrow. The interpretation of the Liebestod by Pearson was powerful and nuanced as her dynamic control and expressive phrasing brought the character's complex emotions to life. The faultless chemistry between her soaring vocals and the orchestra's rich harmonies created a spellbinding ambiance, drawing the audience into Wagner's world of passion and longing. The Park Avenue Chamber Orchestra presents Romantic Reflections at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music, New York, NY. Photo by Da Ping Luo.The Tristan ChordBernard enriched the audience experience by guiding the orchestra to perform segments of the music, including Wagner's famous Tristan Chord, revealing its unsettled tensions and essential role in portraying the opera's expressive landscape. These live demonstrations allowed the audience to grasp the complexities of Wagner's harmonic syntax and its insightful influence on the music's narrative.Neoclassical LeaningsIn contrast, Brahms' Symphony No. 1 offered a different yet equally profound expression of Romanticism. Before the performance, Bernard reflected on Brahms’s neoclassical leanings, absolute music, and the composer’s struggle with Beethoven's legacy. He noted Brahms’s inventive amalgamation of classical form and Romanticism using the sonic tools and orchestra of the late 19th century.An Homage to BeethovenBernard cited Brahms' musical references to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, leading the orchestra to play excerpts from the symphony, particularly the fourth movement's opening, which echoes the "Ode to Joy" theme. This demonstration underscored Brahms' homage to Beethoven while showcasing his unique voice and compositional mastery. The orchestra's performance of the symphony highlighted its dramatic intensity, lyrical beauty, and structural clarity, capturing Brahms' Romantic heroism and emotional depth. David Bernard conducts The Park Avenue Chamber Orchestra, presenting Romantic Reflections at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music, New York, NY. Photo by Da Ping Luo.Divergent Methodologies of Brahms and WagnerThe divergent methodologies of Romanticism in Wagner's and Brahms' works were extraordinarily distinct. With its unbroken melodic lines and fluid harmonies, Wagner's music evoked a passionate, poignant, and transcendent journey. On the other hand, Brahms' symphony, with its classical structures and rhythmic vitality, communicated a sense of heroic struggle and definitive triumph. Bernard's narrative highlighted Brahms' Romantic heroism, grounded in tradition yet forward-looking in its emotional expressiveness.Immersion ConceptA significant aspect of this performance was Bernard's immersion concept, where audience members were seated among the orchestra, converting their experience from passive listeners to active participants. This innovative seating arrangement allowed the audience to experience the music from within the ensemble, providing an intimate and visceral connection to the performance. The immediacy of the sound and proximity to the musicians offered a unique perspective, enhancing the emotional impact of Wagner's lush, emotive soundscapes and Brahms' disciplined yet fervent symphonic form.Abiding SupremacyThe New York Chamber Symphony's performance, guided by Bernard's thoughtful commentary, live demonstrations, and immersive approach, illuminated the rich diversity of music within the Romantic era. The collocation of Wagner's intense, vibrant journey with Brahms' structured yet passionate heroism, combined with the immersive seating experience and the remarkable artistry of Sara Pearson, offered the audience a profound appreciation of Romantic music's scope and gravity. This concert was a testament to the orchestra's adaptability, Bernard's visionary leadership, and the abiding supremacy of just two towering figures of Romanticism.The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony presents Romantic ReflectionsDavid Bernard, ConductorSara Pearson, SopranoRichard Wagner: Prelude and Liebestod, Opera, WWV 90 (1859)Johannes Brahms, Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 (1868)Ludwig Van Beethoven: excerpts from Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 (1824)Park Avenue Chamber SymphonyDavid Bernard, Music Director and Conductor875 5th Ave, New York, NY 10065(917) 740-7227Website: https://chambersymphony.com/For information and tickets for next season, click HERE.Readers may also enjoy our reviews of The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony records Tchaikovsky, Peter and the Wolf, Transcendent Triumph and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2, and The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony performs Mahler’s Symphony No. 5.https://youtu.be/rx6wiB9rY_U?si=F2ouj0-bJom1SLKn

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Transcendent Triumph and Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2

Tonight was Transcendent Triumph and Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2 presented at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in Manhattan. Conducted by music director David Bernard, this was the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony's opening concert of the 2023-24 season.Intimate and Humanistic Music-Making ExperienceThis performance of Rachmaninoff's symphonic masterpiece emerged as an InsideOut ™ immersive experience. Maestro Bernard crafted this venue, seating audience members among the musicians in the orchestra to experience a sonic, intimate, and humanistic music-making experience. This was today's second performance of the Symphony No. 2. The earlier concert was customized for families and children.The Ebullient MaestroWe heard a few chuckles as the ebullient maestro encouraged everyone to take a "selfie" with a nearby musician. Each orchestra section was introduced as Bernard explained how the unique sounds of the instruments were produced. Bernard even shared an anecdote about a '60s rock star who borrowed a lovely theme from the Symphony No. 2, resulting in copyright issues. David Bernard, Conductor (photo from DavidBernard.comIntimate Exposure to Performance ArtBernard described the benefits of sitting by orchestra musicians in a symphonic concert. He noted that listening while adjacent to the musicians provided a unique and intimate exposure to performance art. Audience members were encouraged to watch the musicians as they listened—this would provide a rich and mesmerizing artistic encounter. As he noted, this venue is "about experiencing the music."Exciting FeaturesBefore each of the four movements of the Symphony No. 2, Bernard described in detail the exciting features of the music. He also spoke of the Romantic era of music launched by Beethoven that continued through Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff.Deeply Personal Musical ExpressionsNext was a description of the symphonic minuet's historical evolution to what Rachmaninoff presented in his Allegro molto "scherzo" movement. Bernard described Rachmaninoff's deeply personal musical expressions where he foreshadows the soul's brooding, melancholy, reflective state. Indeed, Rachmaninoff's music was the art of expressive appeal through melodic warmth.In the grandeur of design, Symphony No. 2 stands practically alone, except perhaps for the Scherzo of Bruckner's Ninth Symphony.Multi-Dimensional Musical ProductsThe Symphony No. 2 opened with perfect security, authentic sweep, validity, and individuality. The audience experienced ultimate, stereophonic, and multi-dimensional musical products as the orchestra advanced. The ensemble masterfully conveyed the work's appealing, strong Russian qualities, enriched by its suffusion of old forms and highly personal characterizations of the composer's psyche and imagination.Gloomy WarningListeners relished the profoundly overbearing chords, premonitions of death, or the mememto mori of the scherzo's conclusion. Whenever carefree, exuberant themes occurred, an inflexible chorus cut in with its gloomy warning.https://youtu.be/GgyBqqZ13fU?si=K0UFaFQwfF17wekd&t=463Memorable Orchestral ApexesThe ensemble honored the work's lush romanticism, sweeping melodies, and rich orchestrations. The musicians showcased Rachmaninoff's distinctive use of recurring themes and motifs throughout the four movements. The composer's memorable orchestral apexes enraptured the audience, including an elaborate journey of development and recapitulation thundering toward the resounding coda in the final Allegro vivace movement.https://youtu.be/d3HwV7OcL9E?si=cjjT-RQuiSyVWs93&t=680As Rachmaninoff noted, "I compose music because I must give expression to my feelings…just as I talk because I must give utterance to my thoughts."Work with ChildrenTonight's concert was suitably billed as a Transcendent Triumph--The Full InsideOut Concerts™ Experience. This performance by David Bernard and Park Avenue Chamber Symphony honored this masterpiece of Russian romantic music with its soaring emotional heights and virtuosic writing. Bernard's informative introductions and work with children help educate current and future audiences on symphonic music's beauty, magnificence, and importance.The evening ended with a delightful reception with refreshments for the audience and orchestra members. Sergei Rachmaninoff, 1900 Public DomainMarvelous SolosIn addition to crisp, precise sectional work, marvelous solos were all around, including the concertmaster violinist, woodwind chairs, and many more. Bernard's conducting was clear, expressive, compelling, and marvelously understated--there were no dramatic gesticulations of visual melodrama from the conductor's podium.Looking AheadMarvelous concerts follow tonight's season opener, including the InsideOut Nutcracker on December 9, an all-Gershwin concert on February 10 with the Rhapsody in Blue featuring pianist Ted Rosenthal, and the Romanticism of Wagner and Brahms on May 18.Park Avenue Chamber SymphonyDavid Bernard, Music Director and Conductor875 5th AvenueNew York, NY 10065(917) 740-7227For tickets and information about the 2023-24 season, go to https://chambersymphony.com/Today's performances were at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music, 450 West 37th Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues.Readers may also enjoy our reviews of The American Symphony Orchestra and the Roaring 20s, The American Classical Orchestra presents a Romantic Fantasy, Venice City of Light at St. John the Divine, and The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony performs Mahler's Symphony No. 5. https://youtu.be/SvuitFzDxDg?si=FVt8inuLTvuEEfyG

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Amber Sloan performing at the #redfoxwhitefox launch party #dance #party #dimennacenterforclassicalmusic