This summer, Lincoln Center invites New Yorkers and guests from around the globe to experience the fourth annual Summer for the City—a festival where tradition meets innovation. Dive into an inspiring lineup of multidisciplinary performances, from world and New York premieres to immersive, interactive events. The campus’s outdoor spaces will be transformed into hubs of creativity and community, offering both artistic adventures and peaceful escapes. Admission is free or choose-what-you-pay, making this a can’t-miss celebration of the city’s artistic soul. Join the millions who have made Summer for the City an essential part of NYC’s summer scene.
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Kick off Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City on Wednesday, June 11, at 7:30 pm in Damrosch Park with an electrifying opening night featuring two powerhouse performances from contemporary music icons. First up, the incomparable Robert Glasper—multiple GRAMMY Award-winning producer, composer, pianist, and cultural visionary—brings his genre-defying sound to the stage. With a career spanning over two decades, Glasper has masterfully blended the worlds of modern jazz, R&B, and hip-hop, notably shaping a new generation of music lovers through his acclaimed Black Radio project, where musicality takes precedence over labels.
Following Glasper, Cuban bassist and Latin GRAMMY Award-winner Alain Pérez leads La Orquesta in a set that promises bold innovation rooted in rich Latin traditions. As part of his summer tour, Pérez’s dynamic musicianship and creative spirit have earned him an international reputation for pushing boundaries and delivering unforgettable performances. Together, these artists set the tone for a festival brimming with genius, collaboration, and limitless musical possibility..
Another of this year’s many highlights is Jonathon Heyward Conducting Brahms’s First Symphony on Tuesday, July 22 & Wednesday, July 23 at 7:30 pm at the Wu Tsai Theater, David Geffen Hall.
Journey into a world of musical storytelling as Music Director Jonathon Heyward leads the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center through an evening inspired by folklore and legend. The program opens with the rarely performed Faust Overture by Emilie Mayer, a contemporary of Brahms, whose dramatic score captures the tragic essence of Goethe’s legendary character. Next, experience the New York premiere of Anna Clyne’s Glasslands, where star saxophonist Jess Gillam brings to life the haunting cries of the Irish banshee with extraordinary virtuosity.
The evening culminates in Brahms’s Symphony No. 1 in C minor—a sweeping masterpiece that fuses stormy drama with the lyrical beauty of melodies inspired by Alpine shepherd songs. Let yourself be swept away by an orchestral journey that celebrates classic tales and bold new voices in the heart of New York City.
For more information, please visit the Lincoln Center website.
Images – Main Jess Gillam by Sam Becker /Jonathon Heyward by Vincent Tullo. Images courtesy of Lincoln Center
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