NOTE-WORTHY
BEST thing about Summer in NYC? The whole city morphs into a giant free music venue. There’s something for everyone this season — whether you’re looking for a quiet evening of classical music or feel like dancing away the afternoon to jazz.
RIVER TO RIVER
This year’s River to River Festival kicks off with a bang — the “Bang on a Can Marathon.” The free downtown music festival runs through mid-August and performances range from New York City Opera to Broadway classics to Arlo Guthrie’s folk. May 31 through August. Free, at various locations. Full schedule at rivertorivernyc.com.
CELEBRATE BROOKLYN!
Stake out your patch of grass in front of the Prospect Park Bandshell when David Byrne headlines the opening night of Celebrate Brooklyn! The party continues through August with music acts as varied as Blonde Redhead and Femi Kuti. June 8 through August. Free, at Prospect Park Bandshell. Full schedule at briconline.org/celebrate.
TOWN HALL
The Sunday Free for All at Town Hall starts with a concert from pianist Anne-Marie McDermott. Violinist Hilary Hahn and the Emerson String Quartet round out the series. May 31 to June 21. Free (tickets required, available noon the day of the performance), at Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd St. Full schedule at freeforallattownhall.org.
NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC
Catch all four of the Phil’s concerts in July, featuring classics from Mozart, Beethoven, Mahler and Copland. Stick around after the performances and enjoy the fireworks. July 14-17. Free, at various locations. Full schedule at nyphil.org.
SUMMERGARDEN
Set in MoMA’s Sculpture Garden: classical performances from Juilliard School musicians as well as jazz from the Billy Harper Quintet. July 5-26. Free, at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden at MoMA, 54th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues. Full schedule at moma.org.
MADISON SQUARE PARK
The free outdoor Oval Lawn Series takes place Wednesday nights. Pack a blanket and enjoy the mix of folksy Loudon Wainwright or Cuban singer songwriter Alex Cuba. June 17 to Aug. 5. Free, at Madison Square Park, 25th Street and Fifth Avenue. Full schedule at madisionsquarepark.org.
LINCOLN CENTER
Lincoln Center toasts 50 years with a June Yo-Yo Ma concert. The party continues in August with the 39th Lincoln Center Out of Doors festival. Ma: June 9.; Out of Doors: Aug. 5-23. All free, at Damrosch Park Bandshell, 62nd Street and Amsterdam Avenue. Details at lincolncenter.org and at lcoutofdoors.org.
METROPOLITAN OPERA
Six Friday night performances beginning with Central Park’s SummerStage and continued in all five boroughs. Recital Series July 13 through Aug. 14, Live in HD Aug. 29 through September. Free, at various locations. Full schedule at metoperafamily.org.
HUDSON RIVER PARK
Three series share the West Side piers. On Tuesday nights, Pier 45 will turn into a showcase for talent from the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and other schools. Just a few blocks north at West 14th Street, you can rock out on Thursdays from July to August with dance punk and indie rock headliners Matt and Kim, Yeasayer, and Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. Various dates June through August. Free, at Pier 45, Christopher Street and Hudson River, and Pier 54, W. 14th Street and Hudson River. Full schedule at hudsonriverpark.org.
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