Music in the Making

Jen and her dog, Casey, sit in the shade created by NYPD barricades at 8:00 AM. It's one of those rare times during the year when dogs are allowed on the Great Lawn. July 16, 2012.
NYPD barricades, stacked by the hundreds, ready to be placed around the Great Lawn during the day. July 16, 2012.
A tent acting as the Cafeteria is set up just behind the stage. This will, throughout the day, serve organizers, stage and park crew, and, later in the evening, the visiting Philharmonic musicians. July 16, 2012.
Behind the stage, in the morning, looking towards the New York skyline. July 16, 2012.
A member of the stage crew climbs up to assess the giant speakers positioned to the sides of the stage. July 16, 2012.
A member of the stage crew sweeps the stage while a sponsor banner is hung in the back. July 16, 2012.
Stage crew carry a thick cable that will eventually power the lighting booth, set up later in the day. July 16, 2012.
Central Park Conservancy crew measure the space between the barricades that will act as an emergency path during the concert. July 16, 2012.
A Central Park patron scouts for a location for the New York Philharmonic concert. Patrons show up as early as 8 AM to grab a good spot. July 16, 2012.
Central Park patrons secure spots early in the day for the New York Philharmonic concert at 8 PM. July 16, 2012.
As the stage is set up in the morning, a Central Park patron does a handstand while a friend snaps a photo. July 16, 2012.
A pair of sandals left by a Central Park patron to secure her spot for the concert. July 16, 2012.
A Central Park Conservancy employee washes the brick path that leads to the stage. This will eventually be closed to the public and opened for invited guests of the concert. July 16, 2012.
Sergeant Pierre (r) of Parks Enforcement heads to Cherry Hill where the fireworks will be set up. He will make sure the area is closed to public for safety reasons. July 16, 2012.
Sergeant Pierre takes a photograph for a couple before sending them out of the Cherry Hill area, closed to the public due order to the fireworks. July 16, 2012.
Stage crew installs the conductor's platform for the July 16, 2012 New York Philharmonic performance.
A member of the stage crew installs the conductor's platform for the July 16, 2012 New York Philharmonic performance.
A member of the stage crew does a mic check on stage. He tests every mic before the concert. July 16, 2012.
A member of the stage crew shows off his tattoos for the camera. July 16, 2012.
Members of the New York Philharmonic Communications Department tape 'Reserved' signs on to the chairs set up for invited guests of the concert. July 16, 2012.
Central Park patrons camp out all day for the night's performance. July 16, 2012.
A Central Park patron lounges behind one of the barricades set up to divide the Great Lawn into sections. July 16, 2012.
Central Park Conservancy employee Rebecca Sullivan organizes the night's programs distributed to invited guests. July 16, 2012.
New York Philharmonic Principal Librarian Lawrence Tarlow distributes sheet music for the orchestra's performance in Central Park. July 16, 2012.
The stage is set for the musicians as the audience gathers for New York Philharmonic's concert in Central Park. July 16, 2012.
Violinist James Ehnes, rehearses before his performance with the New York Philharmonic in Central Park. July 16, 2012.
A member of the orchestra reads in the New York Philharmonic's instrument truck before the concert. July 16, 2012.
New York Philharmonic's Bass Trombonist James Markey backstage before the Central Park concert. July 16, 2012.
New York Philharmonic's Principal Harpist Nancy Allen tunes up for the night's performance in Central Park. July 16, 2012.
A member of the New York Philharmonic on stage for the night's concert in Central Park. July 16, 2012.
Members of the New York Philharmonic orchestra wait for the concert in Central Park to begin. July 16, 2012.
Conductor Andrey Boreyko (r) and Violinist James Ehnes before the night's performance of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35. July 16, 2012.
New York Philharmonic Orchestra Personnel Manager Carl Schiebler with Conductor Andrey Boreyko. Boreyko led the orchestra for the night's performance of Tchaikovsky, Wagner and Brahms. July 16, 2012.
Conductor Andrey Boreyko heads towards his platform for the night's first performance, Wagner's Prelude to Act I of Die Meistersinger. July 16, 2012.
Conductor Andrey Boreyko on stage during New York Philharmonic's performance in Central Park. July 16, 2012.
Conductor Andrey Boreyko (r) and violinist James Ehnes at the end of the night's performance of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35. July 16, 2012.
New York Philharmonic Orchestra's Personnel Manager, Carl Schiebler, takes a picture of the audience in attendance with his iPad. July 16, 2012.
Members of the New York Philharmonic exit the stage after the night's concert ends. July 16, 2012.
Violinist James Ehnes talks to another orchestra member after the concert. July 16, 2012.
Central Park patrons watch the fireworks after the New York Philharmonic's performance in Central Park. An estimated 40,000 people were in attendance for the event. July 16, 2012.

On July 16, the New York Philharmonic performed Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35, Wagner's Prelude to Act I of Die Meistersinger, and Brahms' Symphony No. 1 in Central Park. Starting at 8:00 pm, attendees enjoyed classical music in the Park's iconic Great Lawn; for days in advance, the Central Park Conservancy worked to make the lawn fit for tens of thousands of music lovers and a massive stage.

Since 1980, the Central Park Conservancy has worked to maintain, manage and restore Central Park for the enjoyment of millions of visitors. We've also been the unofficial roadies of events in the Park, helping to set up and break down equipment for performances by some of the world's most accomplished artists.

That work doesn't usually take center stage — the music does. But photographer Emon Hassan helped to document the extraordinary efforts that go into preparing the Park for the New York Philharmonic's summer concerts in Central Park, giving you an insider's look at the work that lets the music happen.

The work began on July 13 at 6:00 am, and we didn't rest until the Philharmonic's first performance later that night. After clean-up of the Great Lawn (which lasted until the early hours of July 14) we prepared the landscape for its usual flood of weekend visitors. On Monday, July 16, we were back at work to ready the landscape for a second show.

This photo documentary shows the work surrounding the second and final concert in Central Park. With up to 200,000 visitors exploring the Park's 843 acres every day, the Conservancy feels as if almost every day is a major event in Central Park. But these concerts and our role in preparation of them is something special. Enjoy!

Emon Hassan is a New York based filmmaker and photographer. Born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, he has had the great privilege of living in four continents. His photo and video work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, PBS, BBC and the European Journalism Centre Magazine. Inspired by his non-fiction work capturing life in New York City, Hassan is currently writing and producing a supernatural/sci-fi web series, The Third, rooted in historical stories in Manhattan.