East Coast Chamber Orchestra Returns to Central Park for Naumburg Orchestral Concerts’ 120th Season

NEW YORK CITY — The Naumburg Orchestral Concerts will continue its 120th season on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. with a free performance by the East Coast Chamber Orchestra (ECCO) at the iconic Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park. The evening promises a program blending Baroque mastery, early 20th-century American lyricism, and contemporary innovation.

A Tradition Since 1905

Founded by philanthropist Elkan Naumburg, the concert series has been bringing free classical music to New Yorkers for more than a century, aiming to engage audiences in the informal yet inspiring outdoor setting of Central Park. The Naumburg Bandshell itself, gifted to the city in 1923, remains one of the most beloved open-air stages in the country.

The Program

ECCO’s August 5 program showcases both classics and contemporary works:

• J.S. Bach / arr. Michi Wiancko – Chaconne from Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004
• George Gershwin – Lullaby for Strings (1919)
• David Ludwig – Virtuosity: Five Microludes for a String Orchestra (2013)**
  1. Concerto for Two Violins
  2. Concerto for Viola
  3. Concerto for Cello
  4. Concerto for Contrabass
  5. Concerto for Orchestra

Intermission

• Jennifer Higdon – String (2002)
• John Adams – Shaker Loops (1983)
  1. Shaking and Trembling
  2. Hymning Slews
  3. Loops and Verses
  4. A Final Shaking

**Commissioned by ECCO

Free and Open to the Public

The concert is free to attend, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. The event will also be broadcast live on WQXR, hosted by Terrance McKnight, allowing listeners worldwide to experience ECCO’s performance.

Will you be catching ECCO live in Central Park or tuning in to the WQXR broadcast? Share your concert-night photos and impressions with us at ChicagoMusicGuide.com.