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New York Philharmonic Gives Conductor Alan Gilbert 3-Year Deal

The New York Philharmonic has extended the contract of music director Alan Gilbert to three years meaning he will be at Carnegie Hall outfit until the 2016-2017 season, this according to the New York Times.

Gilbert has been with the ensemble for eight years succeeding the likes of Lorin Maazel and Kurt Masur both who have had lengthy stints with the "Big Five," orchestra.

"There's been a sense of inevitability for the renewal for some time now. I feel closer and closer to the musicians as time goes on. I just feel that the relationship is deepening and getting stronger. I'm thoroughly enjoying the work."

Matthew VanBesien the new executive director said that the five years with Alan Gilbert has been very good for orchestra and cited the past fractious relationships between boards and conductors highlighting the disagreement with conductor Lorin Maazel and board member Deborah Borda as case and point.

The orchestra will be working on new projects that will include trying to reach New York City through their music and has ventures slated for China according to the NY Times.

Ahead of the projected exciting times the newly contracted conductor said. "We have a winning team here. I conduct a lot of the greatest orchestras in the world, and I can say the New York Philharmonic is playing as well as any of them, with a new enthusiasm."

Alan Gilbert is a native New Yorker has a strong association with the Juilliard Performing Arts School in Manhattan and the New York based orchestra is trying to strike a deal that will see them play at the Lincoln Center.

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