The Merkin Concert Hall in New York is one of the city’s great musical performance venues and features a dynamic schedule of various concerts and program events. Most recently the hall featured the Lark Quartet performing a new works by two Pulitzer Prize winning composers. The works were performed during the first half of the concert on the Thursday evening, April 22 and included pianist Jeremy Denk who joined the quartet. They performed the new piano quintet by Paul Moravec’s as well as Jennifer Higdon’s new work. There are so many diverse selections of musical performances and concerts that occur on a nightly basis in this city that it can frequently be difficult for residents to choose which event they want to go to. This dilemma is magnified for the tourist who will only stay in New York for a week or so. However, the upside is that the city, including the Merkin Concert Hall, is never short on performances or entertainment options.

The month of May will also be busy at the Merkin and the hall will feature performances from the New York Festival of Song. This year’s festival will feature some all new works that highlight the diversity and beauty of the human voice. Some of the featured works will include Beautiful Ohio, which is a new song cycle written by Harold Meltzer. Gabriel Kahane’s work Craigslistlieder is an original eight song cycle work that is based on anonymous Craigslist ads. The singers for the festival will include Paul Appleby, Anne Carolyn-Bird and Andrew Garland. Pianists for the songs will be Steven Blier and Michael Barrett. The Merkin Concert Hall is known for its outstanding concerts and for promoting new and original pieces. Some of the most honored musicians, singers and composers are featured at the hall every year. This is just one of the great performance venues in New York.