Esa-Pekka Salonen may be famous as a conductor, but he considers himself a composer first. His latest piece, a piano concerto written for Yefim Bronfman, gets its world premiere under Salonen's own baton this week from the New York Philharmonic. Performances are tonight at 7:30 and tomorrow and Saturday (February 3) evenings at 8 at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center. Also on the program are Ravel's Le Tombeau de Couperin and his orchestration of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.

Next Tuesday, February 6, Salonen's new concerto will be the subject of one of the Philharmonic's "Hear and Now" concerts. Composer and soloist will join host Steven Stucky (an award-winning composer himself) for a discussion of the piece, followed by a complete performance. The program begins at 6:45 p.m. at Avery Fisher Hall.