The power and the spirit of New York City were celebrated at the World Financial Center Winter Garden on January 15, 2011 when the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra was joined by visionary performer Rinde Eckert ("iconoclastic, category-smashing, ...riveting," Anthony Tommasini, The New York Times) portraying master builder Robert Moses in excerpts from KCO Music Director Gary S. Fagin's new composition, "Robert Moses Astride New York."

The Brooklyn Youth Chorus ("...a polished ensemble of miniature professionals," Steve Smith, The New York Times) came on stage to sing the music of Bob Dylan, Leonard Bernstein, Richard Rodgers and James Taylor in celebration of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

The performance also included "Twelfth Street Rag" by Euday L. Bowman and "Bethena" by Scott Joplin, "Putnam's Camp" by Charles Ives and "Quiet City" by Aaron Copland. The performance concluded with what has become the KCO's customary finale to its Winter Garden performances: a public dance. For the audience's pleasure on this evening, the KCO played The Carousel Waltz.

Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra concert; World Financial Center Winter Garden

Bowman: Twelfth Street Rag

Joplin/arr. Fagin: Bethena

Ives: Putnam’s Camp from Three Places in New England

Copland: Quiet City

            Diane Lesser, oboe; Thomas Hoyt, trumpet

Fagin: Suite from Robert Moses Astride New York (world premiere)

            Rinde Eckert, tenor

Dylan/Bernstein/Rodgers/Taylor/arr. Fagin: A Celebration of Spirit

            Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Dianne Berkun, director

Rodgers: Waltz from Carousel