New York Philharmonic Plays Mahler and Unsuk Chin

Playing along to old movies is fun, sure—but here's where our hometown orchestra's season really starts to power up. Music director Alan Gilbert will lead his players through Mahler's first titanic symphony, as well as in the U.S. premiere of Unsuk Chin's Clarinet Concerto. Chin's high-drama, thrashing-but-gorgeous music is about to get better known stateside, partly on the strength of her new Deutsche Grammophon album. Hearing this new piece, in which global clarinet star Kari Kriikku plays the solo role, should be an early highlight of New York's classical season. (If you have the morning on Sept 23 to yourself, consider checking out an open rehearsal of this program, for a cool $20.)