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The Philadelphia Orchestra Announces FREE Concerts in Philadelphia Area, Residencies at Beloved Summer Homes

April 14, 2023
Our City, Your Orchestra Live at Northeast High School (May 31)
Pride Concert in Verizon Hall with Marin Alsop (June 3)
Expanded Residency at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts
(May 18–19; June 20, 22, 24; July 19, 20, 22) 
Bravo! Vail Music Festival (July 7–14)
Saratoga Performing Arts Center (August 2–19)

 

(Philadelphia, PA—April 14, 2023)—The Philadelphia Orchestra announces the addition of two FREE, community-focused concerts during its 2022–23 season: Our City, Your Orchestra Live at Northeast High School and the second annual Pride Concert led by Marin Alsop. In addition, the Orchestra will

expand its summer offerings in Philadelphia with eight concerts across three weeks at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, and will return to its summer homes at the Bravo! Vail Music Festival in Vail, Colorado, and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, New York. The performances demonstrate the Orchestra’s commitment to beloved classics and innovative new works, genre-crossing collaborations, and more, with an impressive range of guest artists including Audra McDonald, Yo-Yo Ma, Gil Shaham, Amos Lee, Hilary Hahn, Time for Three, Isata Kanneh-Mason, James Ehnes, Chill Moody, Pink Martini, and Bruce Liu.

Our City, Your Orchestra Live at Northeast High School

Your Philadelphia Orchestra will return to Northeast High School for the second time for a free community performance on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at 7:00 PM (rain date set for Thursday, June 1). Our City, Your Orchestra Live brings the spirit of the free digital series Our City, Your Orchestra—which uncovers and amplifies the voices, stories, and causes championed by Philadelphia organizations and businesses that represent and serve resilient communities—to in-person audiences with the full Orchestra. The performance will celebrate the diversity of Northeast Philadelphia and will feature works by Leonard Bernstein, John Williams, Valerie Coleman, and more. Guests can enjoy an array of pre-concert activities, including food trucks, games, face painting, balloon art, and more. Tickets are free, but reservations are encouraged at www.philorch.org/ocyolive.

Our City, Your Orchestra is supported in part by the William Penn Foundation, with additional support provided through the PNC Arts Alive initiative.

Pride Concert

The Philadelphia Orchestra will perform its second annual free Pride Concert in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, June 3, at 7:00 PM. Led by Marin Alsop, the concert will celebrate music by LGBTQ+ composers and allies and will include works such as the world premiere of Laura Karpman’s The Marvels Suite in advance of the film release, Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man paired with Joan Tower’s Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman, the fourth movement from Jennifer Higdon’s Concerto for Orchestra, and more. The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus will return and will be joined by the ANNA Crusis Feminist Choir and Philadelphia Voices of Pride in their Orchestra debuts to perform a diverse range of choral works, including Lady Gaga’s and Jeppe Laursen’s “Born This Way,” David L. Brunner’s “Phoenix Song,” and Carly Simon’s “Let the River Run,” from the film Working Girl. The concert is free, but tickets are required and available at www.philorch.org/pride beginning Friday, April 21, 2023. Seating is general admission and on a first-come, first-served basis.   

Prior to the concert at 5:30 PM, members of Martha Graham Cracker’s band will give a free performance in Commonwealth Plaza at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. The Philly PRIDE All-Star Cabaret will feature Philadelphia stage veteran Jess Conda as host and performances by John Jarboe of the Bearded Ladies Cabaret, Shannon Turner of Glitter and Garbage, and PJ Brown of PJ Brown & Her Resistance.

The Pride Concert is supported in part by Donald. E. Barb, Esq., and the Rev. Bruce H. Davidson, and Dr. James F. Dougherty. Additional support is given by Allan Schimmel.

Mann Center for the Performing Arts

Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin will join the Orchestra for its first two of eight performances at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts. First, he will lead Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Morgan State University Choir, one of the most prestigious Historically Black College and University choirs, presented by TD Bank. The concert will also include several chorus-only performances, including “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” “I’ve Just Come from the Fountain,” “I Know I’ve Been Changed,” and more (May 18). The following evening, titled “Music Under the Stars,” features violinist María Dueñas in her Orchestra debut performing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. The concert also includes the Suite No. 2 from Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe and Margaret Bonds’s impactful The Montgomery Variations—a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (May 19).  

The Orchestra’s June performances at the Mann will begin with the annual Tchaikovsky Spectacular featuring his Fifth Symphony, Romeo and Juliet, and the 1812 Overture, under the baton of Paolo Bortolameolli in his Philadelphia Orchestra debut (June 20). The concert will conclude with a fireworks display. Conductor Ted Sperling will lead the Orchestra in a tribute concert highlighting the music of Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Carly Simon with vocalists Andréa Burns, Aisha de Haas, and Morgan James (June 22).

July kicks off with a free world-premiere performance of Darin Atwater’s Black Metropolis to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. The concert will feature West Philadelphia rapper, and the Mann’s community artist-in-residence, Chill Moody in collaboration with the Orchestra and will explore the history of hip-hop and Black culture through sound (July 19). Philadelphia native and celebrated singer/songwriter Amos Lee will perform his signature blend of introspective folk, rock, and soul music in collaboration with the Orchestra for the first time (July 20).

Audiences can also enjoy Saturday evenings at the movies with live-score performances by the Orchestra of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (June 24) and Jurassic Park (July 22) while the films are shown on giant screens.  

Bravo! Vail Music Festival

Nézet-Séguin will join the Orchestra for its 16th year at the Bravo! Vail Music Festival, in the pastoral Rocky Mountains, with three performances that represent his vision as music and artistic director. The Orchestra will perform Florence Price’s Third Symphony on a program also featuring violinist Hilary Hahn in Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto (July 12). Rachmaninoff’s 150th birthday celebration will continue with performances of his Symphonic Dances and Piano Concerto No. 2, featuring Bruce Liu in his Philadelphia Orchestra debut, along with Jennifer Higdon’s Fanfare Ritmico (July 13). Nézet-Séguin will also lead the world premiere of Anna Clyne’s This Moment paired with Mozart’s Requiem (July 14).

Former Principal Guest Conductor Stéphane Denève will lead the first week of performances, beginning with an all-Beethoven concert featuring his Sixth Symphony (“Pastoral”) and James Ehnes in the Violin Concerto (July 7). Fresh off of their GRAMMY® win for Best Classical Instrumental Solo for their recording with The Philadelphia Orchestra, Time for Three will perform Kevin Puts’s Contact (which also won a GRAMMY for Best Contemporary Classical Composition) on a program that includes Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite and Ravel’s Bolero (July 8). Denève will conclude the week with a program titled “A Night in Vienna,” featuring works by Berlioz, Tchaikovsky, Ravel, J. Strauss, Jr, and more (July 9).

Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC)

The Philadelphia Orchestra will conclude its summer residencies with three weeks in Saratoga Springs, New York, where they will be joined by Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and a host of special guests for a diverse series of performances. 

Conductor Fabio Luisi will make his SPAC debut leading the Orchestra in an all-Tchaikovsky performance that features Concertmaster David Kim, which concludes with a fireworks display (August 2). Luisi will also lead pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason in her Orchestra debut in Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1 on a program that also features Schubert’s Ninth Symphony (“Great”) (August 3). World music ensemble Pink Martini will bring their genre-spanning stylings to the SPAC stage in a concert led by Enrico Lopez-Yañez (August 4). Audiences can enjoy Saturday evenings at the movies with live-score performances of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ (August 5) and Jurassic Park (August 19) performed by the Orchestra while the films are shown on giant screens.

The Orchestra will begin its second week with Roderick Cox leading Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, Mozart’s Oboe Concerto featuring Principal Oboe Philippe Tondre, and George Walker’s Lyric for Strings (August 9). Emmy-, GRAMMY-, and six-time Tony Award–winning vocalist Audra McDonald will join the Orchestra for an evening of Broadway favorites (August 10). Nézet-Séguin and the Orchestra will continue the Rachmaninoff 150 celebration with the composer’s Third Symphony and Piano Concerto No. 2 featuring Bruce Liu (August 11). Nézet-Séguin will also lead the Orchestra and GRAMMY Award–winning choral group The Crossing in John Luther Adams’s Vespers of the Blessed Earth, following its highly praised world premiere in Verizon Hall in March 2023, on a program that also includes Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring (August 12).

Violinist Gil Shaham will join the Orchestra as leader and soloist in Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Saint-Georges’s Violin Concerto No. 9 to begin the final week of performances (August 16). Cellist Yo-Yo Ma will perform Dvořák’s Cello Concerto on a program led by Xian Zhang (August 17). And audiences can experience stunning visual pairings of film and music with Mason Bates’s GRAMMY-winning Philharmonia Fantastique and Earth: An HD Odyssey, which pairs Strauss’s Also sprach Zarathustra and John Adams’s Short Ride in a Fast Machine with images of our planet from NASA, led by Edwin Outwater (August 18).

Lead support for the Rachmaninoff 150 Celebration is provided by Tatiana Copeland. Mrs. Copeland’s mother was the niece of Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Tatiana Copeland was named after the composer’s daughter, Tatiana Sergeyevna Rachmaninoff.

The Philadelphia Orchestra Summer Calendar
May 18–August 19, 2023

 

Beethoven’s 9th

May 18 at 8:00 PM—Thursday evening—Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor (Beethoven only)

Eric Conway Conductor

Leah Hawkins Soprano

Cierra Byrd Mezzo-soprano—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut

Issachah Savage Tenor

Kevin Short Bass-baritone

Morgan State University Choir

Eric Conway Director

Johnson                      "Lift Every Voice and Sing"

Traditional                   "In Bright Mansions Above"

Dent                             "Examine Me"

Traditional                   "I’ve Just Come from the Fountain"

Traditional                   "I Know I’ve Been Changed"

Steffe                           "The Battle Hymn of Republic"

Beethoven                   Symphony No. 9 (“Choral”)

On May 18, The Philadelphia Orchestra and Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin will return to the Mann for an evening that is certainly not to be missed. The power of music will undoubtedly be felt as one of the world’s preeminent orchestras and most prestigious Historically Black College and University choirs perform together in the acoustically renowned TD Pavilion.

The first half of this momentous evening will feature the GRAMMY-nominated and Emmy Award–winning Morgan State University Choir led by Director Dr. Eric Conway. The Morgan State University Choir has performed for audiences throughout the United States and worldwide, including the Virgin Islands, Canary Islands, Canada, Africa, Asia, and Europe. One of its most historical moments was performing under the baton of Robert Shaw at Carnegie Hall’s 100th Birthday Tribute to Marian Anderson.

During the second half, Yannick Nézet-Séguin will conduct the world-class Philadelphia Orchestra and Morgan State University Choir performing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, one of the towering masterworks of classical music. With its choral finale extolling the wish for peace and tolerance for all, the Ninth has become more than a symphony—it is a worldwide cultural icon. With an acclaimed group of soloists, the Morgan State University Choir, and the ”Fabulous Philadelphians,” expect a supreme summer evening.

Please note: The Philadelphia Orchestra will only perform Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony during this concert.

This concert is presented by TD Bank.

Tickets are on sale now via MannCenter.org, Ticketmaster.com, 800.982.2787, and the Mann Box Office.

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Music Under the Stars

May 19 at 8:00 PM—Friday evening—Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor

María Dueñas Violin—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut

Bonds                          The Montgomery Variations—First Complete Philadelphia Orchestra

                                    Performance

Mendelssohn               Violin Concerto

Ravel                           Suite No. 2 from Daphnis and Chloe

Join us for Music Under the Stars on Friday, May 19, night two of our residency with the world-class Philadelphia Orchestra. Led by Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and joined by violinist María Dueñas, the program will begin with Margaret Bonds’s impactful The Montgomery Variations—a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The evening will continue with Mendelssohn's beloved Violin Concerto and conclude with one of Ravel's most passionate works, the Suite No. 2 from Daphnis and Chloe, all aligning for a quintessential musical evening under the stars.

Tickets are on sale now via MannCenter.org, Ticketmaster.com, 800.982.2787, and the Mann Box Office.

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Our City, Your Orchestra Live

May 31 at 7:00 PM—Wednesday evening—Northeast High School Football Field, Philadelphia

*Rain date set for Thursday, June 1

Austin Chanu Conductor

Northeast High School Marching Band

Bernstein                     Overture to Candide

Williams                      “Adventures on Earth,” from E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

Still                              Serenade

Mignone                      “Congada,” from O contratador de diamantes

Guarnieri                     “Dansa brasileira”

Coleman                      Seven O’Clock Shout

Copland                       Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo

Join us for Our City, Your Orchestra Live—a special, free concert and festival honoring Northeast High School (NEHS) and its surrounding community.

From pieces showcasing the vibrant Brazilian spirit to the energy of the western frontier, this performance is a celebration of the diversity found at NEHS and the community. Plus, hear some fan-favorites from John Williams’s vast catalogue like the theme from E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. The swelling sound of the NEHS Marching Band opens the concert in an exciting portrayal of the talent coming from the music program.

Pre-concert activities include bouncy houses, games, concessions, and food trucks.

This concert is a live extension of the Orchestra’s groundbreaking Our City, Your Orchestra digital series, which uncovers and amplifies the voices, stories, and causes championed by unique Philly organizations and businesses that align with what The Philadelphia Orchestra is today, and what we are becoming.

Tickets are free, but reservations are encouraged at www.philorch.org/ocyolive.

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Pride Concert

June 3 at 7:00 PM—Saturday evening—Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for Performing Arts, Philadelphia

Marin Alsop Conductor

ANNA Crusis Feminist Choir—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut

Mariam Davidson Artistic Director

Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus

Joseph J. Buches Artistic Director

Philadelphia Voices of Pride—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut

Daniel Schwartz Artistic Director

Copland                           Fanfare for the Common Man

Tower                               Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman

Karpman                          The Marvels Suite—World Premiere

Simon                              “Let the River Run,” from Working Girl

Brunner                            “Phoenix Song”

Lady Gaga and Laursen   “Born This Way”

Barber                              Adagio for Strings

Higdon                             Fourth movement from Concerto for Orchestra

Tchaikovsky                     Fourth movement from Symphony No. 4

Celebrate Pride with Your Philadelphia Orchestra! Legendary conductor Marin Alsop leads the Orchestra joined by the ANNA Crusis Feminist Choir, the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus, and Philadelphia Voices of Pride for our second annual Pride Concert dedicated to the Philadelphia region’s LGBTQ+ community. The concert will celebrate music by LGBTQ+ composers and allies and will include works such as the world premiere of Laura Karpman’s The Marvels Suite in advance of the film release and a diverse range of choral works, including Lady Gaga’s and Jeppe Laursen’s “Born This Way.”

Please note: This is a free, general-admission event. Tickets are required for entry into Verizon Hall. You will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis beginning approximately 45 minutes prior to the start of the performance. Entry to the concert is not guaranteed. Please plan to arrive early, as you may need to wait in line.

The concert is free, but tickets are required and available at www.philorch.org/pride beginning Friday, April 21, 2023. Seating is general admission and on a first-come, first-served basis. 

The Pride Concert is supported in part by Donald E. Barb, Esq., and the Rev. Bruce H. Davidson, and Dr. James F. Dougherty. Additional support is given by Allan Schimmel.

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Tchaikovsky Spectacular

June 20 at 8:00 PM—Tuesday evening—Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia

Paolo Bortolameolli Conductor—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut

Tchaikovsky                Symphony No. 5

Tchaikovsky                Romeo and Juliet

Tchaikovsky                1812 Overture

What could be better than an idyllic summer night in Fairmount Park complete with Tchaikovsky, stunning skyline views, a picnic, and fireworks? This beloved summer tradition returns to TD Pavilion at the Mann on June 20 as Paolo Bortolameolli leads The Philadelphia Orchestra in timeless Tchaikovsky pieces, culminating in an epic display of fireworks!

Tickets are on sale now via MannCenter.org, Ticketmaster.com, 800.982.2787, and the Mann Box Office.

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The Trailblazing Music of Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Carly Simon

June 22 at 8:00 PM—Thursday evening—Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia

Ted Sperling Conductor

Andréa Burns Vocalist—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut

Aisha de Haas Vocalist—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut

Morgan James Vocalist

Join us on Thursday, June 22, for The Trailblazing Music of Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Carly Simon with The Philadelphia Orchestra! Curated and conducted by Ted Sperling, the evening will feature vocals by Andréa Burns, Aisha de Haas, and Morgan James.

Note: This is a tribute concert—Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Carly Simon will not be performing.

Tickets are on sale now via MannCenter.org, Ticketmaster.com, 800.982.2787, and the Mann Box Office.

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Concert

June 24 at 8:00 PM—Saturday evening—Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia

Anthony Parnther Conductor—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut

Williams                      Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (complete with film)—First

                                    Complete Philadelphia Orchestra Performance

The Mann is thrilled to present Star Wars: The Force Awakens live in concert on Saturday, June 24. The Philadelphia Orchestra will play Oscar®-winning composer John Williams's musical score live as the film is projected on three giant screens. Pack a picnic and join us for a perfect summer night under the stars!

Since the release of the first Star Wars movie over 40 years ago, the Star Wars saga has had a seismic impact on both cinema and culture, inspiring audiences around the world with its mythic storytelling, captivating characters, groundbreaking special effects, and iconic musical scores composed by Williams. The Mann presented Star Wars: A New Hope in 2018, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in 2019, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in 2022, and now, in 2023, Star Wars: The Force Awakens with The Philadelphia Orchestra.

Tickets are on sale now via MannCenter.org, Ticketmaster.com, 800.982.2787, and the Mann Box Office.

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All Beethoven with Ehnes

July 7 at 6:00 PM—Friday evening—Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, Vail

Stéphane Denève Conductor

James Ehnes Violin                        

Beethoven                   Violin Concerto

Beethoven                   Symphony No. 6 (“Pastoral”)

The Philadelphia Orchestra opens its residency with an all-Beethoven program, featuring Bravo! Vail favorite James Ehnes in Beethoven’s Violin Concerto and the composer’s nature-inspired Symphony No. 6 (“Pastoral”), led by Stéphane Denève.

Tickets are available through the Box Office, by calling 877.812.5700, or by visiting www.bravovail.org.

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Denève Conducts Stravinsky & Ravel

July 8 at 6:00 PM—Saturday evening—Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, Vail

Stéphane Denève Conductor

Time for Three

Puts                             Contact, for string trio and orchestra

Stravinsky                   Suite from The Firebird

Ravel                           Bolero

The boundary-defying Time for Three joins the Orchestra in Kevin Puts’s Contact—a concerto written for the group—in addition to Orchestra-only performances Stravinsky’s magical Firebird Suite and audience-favorite Bolero in this Denève-led program.

Tickets are available through the Box Office, by calling 877.812.5700, or by visiting www.bravovail.org.

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A Night in Vienna

July 9 at 6:00 PM—Sunday evening—Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, Vail

Stéphane Denève Conductor

David Kim Violin

Berlioz                         “A Ball,” from Symphonie fantastique
Takemitsu                    Waltz, from The Face of Another
Tchaikovsky                “Waltz of the Flowers,” from The Nutcracker
Sibelius                       Valse triste
Rodgers                       “The Carousel Waltz,” from Carousel
J. Strauss, Jr.               “On the Beautiful Blue Danube” Waltz
J. Strauss, Jr.               “Emperor” Waltz
Kreisler                        “Liebesleid,” for violin and orchestra
Ravel                           La Valse

Denève leads the Orchestra in an evening full of celebratory and popular tunes, featuring repertoire by Berlioz, Tchaikovsky, Ravel, Johann Strauss, Jr., and more. 

Tickets are available through the Box Office, by calling 877.812.5700, or by visiting www.bravovail.org.

***

Yannick Conducts Tchaikovsky with Hilary Hahn

July 12 at 6:00 PM—Wednesday evening—Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, Vail

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor
Hilary Hahn Violin

Tchaikovsky                Violin Concerto
Price                            Symphony No. 3

Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin returns to Bravo! Vail, leading the Orchestra and groundbreaking violinist Hilary Hahn in Tchaikovsky’s breathtaking Violin Concerto, alongside Florence Price’s Symphony No. 3—a work featured on the Orchestra’s 2022 GRAMMY Award–winning recording.  

Tickets are available through the Box Office, by calling 877.812.5700, or by visiting www.bravovail.org.

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Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2

July 13 at 6:00 PM—Thursday evening—Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, Vail

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor
Bruce Liu Piano—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut

Higdon                         Fanfare Ritmico

Rachmaninoff              Symphonic Dances

Rachmaninoff              Piano Concerto No. 2

Winner of the 2021 International Chopin Piano Competition, Bruce Lui makes his Philadelphia Orchestra debut performing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, in a program including Jennifer Higdon’s Fanfare Ritmico and Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances—a work premiered by the Orchestra in 1941. 

Tickets are available through the Box Office, by calling 877.812.5700, or by visiting www.bravovail.org.

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Mozart’s Requiem

July 14 at 6:00 PM—Friday evening—Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, Vail

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor

Rosa Feola Soprano—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut
Jennifer Johnson Cano Mezzo-soprano
Issachah Savage Tenor

Kyle Ketelsen Bass-baritone—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut
Colorado Symphony Chorus

Duain Wolfe Director

Clyne                           This Moment—World Premiere
Mozart                         Requiem

Nézet-Séguin closes the Orchestra’s residency with a powerful program of beginnings and endings, featuring the world premiere of Anna Clyne’s This Moment, commissioned through the League of American Orchestra’s Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program, paired with Mozart’s emotionally stirring Requiem, featuring the Colorado Symphony Chorus and four exceptional vocal soloists.    

Tickets are available through the Box Office, by calling 877.812.5700, or by visiting www.bravovail.org.

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Darin Atwater’s Black Metropolis with The Philadelphia Orchestra & Chill Moody

July 19 at 8:00 PM—Wednesday evening—Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia

Lina Gonzalez-Granados Conductor

In celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, The Philadelphia Orchestra and West Philadelphia rapper Chill Moody will perform Darin Atwater's Black Metropolis: Improvisations on Paint Factory. This one-of-a-kind composition explores the pillars of hip-hop and Black culture through an architecture of sound. This evening will also feature rappers, DJs, dancers, choirs, and visual artists. Join us for this free concert debuting at the TD Pavilion at the Mann on July 19!

Atwater's Black Metropolis: Improvisations on Paint Factory is a multi-layered piece exploring classical music, hip-hop, spoken word, dance, and visual art. At its core, it is a celebration of hip-hop as a unifying force through a lens of respect and hope. With each movement representing a color and a corresponding message, Black Metropolis is a symphonic masterpiece of sound, sight, and thought.

The original Paint Factory first premiered in 2007 with Atwater’s Soulful Symphony, a 75-member orchestra predominantly featuring people of color. While many of the themes will remain the same in this newly adapted iteration, Black Metropolis: Improvisations on Paint Factory is an entirely new work in partnership with the Mann’s Artist-in-Residence Chill Moody.

This project is supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.

Tickets are free, but required for entry and available now via MannCenter.org. Seating is general admission and is on a first-come, first-served basis.

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WXPN Welcomes Amos Lee

July 20 at 8:00 PM—Thursday evening—Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia

Steven Reineke Conductor

Amos Lee Vocalist—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut

Don’t miss an unforgettable night of music as Amos Lee and his hometown Philadelphia Orchestra perform together for the first time ever on July 20 at the TD Pavilion at the Mann! Lee's signature blend of introspective folk, rock, and soul will reach new heights in this collaboration with the Orchestra.

“Over the course of my life I’ve come to understand that music is my bridge to other people,” Amos Lee says. “I have no idea what the waters are like below that bridge—it might be lava for all I know—but music allows me to float over the whole thing and connect. To me that’s the whole point of why we do this: to give people something to listen to and be enveloped by the love of another human being, and just be reminded that humanity is beautiful.”

Tickets are on sale now via MannCenter.org, Ticketmaster.com, 800.982.2787, and the Mann Box Office.

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Jurassic Park in Concert

July 22 at 8:00 PM—Saturday evening—Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia

Constantine Kitsopoulos Conductor

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Jurassic Park on Saturday, July 22! Experience the film like never before: projected in HD with The Philadelphia Orchestra performing John Williams’s iconic score live to picture on three giant screens.

This action-packed adventure pits man against prehistoric predators in the ultimate battle for survival. Featuring visually stunning imagery and groundbreaking special effects, this epic film is sheer movie magic 65 million years in the making. Welcome ... to Jurassic Park!

Tickets are on sale now via MannCenter.org, Ticketmaster.com, 800.982.2787, and the Mann Box Office.

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Festive Fireworks

August 2 at 7:30 PM—Wednesday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs

Fabio Luisi Conductor

David Kim Violin

Tchaikovsky                Symphony No. 5

Tchaikovsky                Violin Concerto

Tchaikovsky                1812 Overture

Making his SPAC debut for Opening Night is conductor Fabio Luisi, music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Philadelphia Orchestra Concertmaster David Kim will perform Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in an evening of Tchaikovsky featuring the return of the 1812 Overture with live canon fire and a brilliant fireworks display.

Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply). Learn more at www.spac.org.

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Schubert’s “Great” Symphony

August 3 at 7:30 PM—Thursday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs

Fabio Luisi Conductor

Isata Kanneh-Mason Piano—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut

Mendelssohn               Piano Concerto No. 1

Schubert                      Symphony No. 9 (“Great”)

Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 (“Great”) and the SPAC and Philadelphia Orchestra debuts of Isata Kanneh-Mason in Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1 highlight this evening. Fabio Luisi conducts this special evening.

Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply). Learn more at www.spac.org.

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Pink Martini and The Philadelphia Orchestra featuring China Forbes

August 4 at 7:30 PM—Friday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs

Enrico Lopez-Yañez Conductor

Pink Martini

Program to be announced from the stage

Performing on six continents and countless concert stages, Pink Martini draws musical inspiration from around the world. Members of the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame, the self-described “little orchestra” joins the GRAMMY Award–winning Philadelphia Orchestra to perform its cosmopolitan world music spanning jazz to classical to vintage pop in over 25 languages.

Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply). Learn more at www.spac.org.

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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ in Concert

August 5 at 7:30 PM—Saturday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs

Justin Freer Conductor

Doyle                           Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (complete with film)

Grab your broom and get ready for the tasks ahead! The Triwizard Tournament comes to Hogwarts™ in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ in Concert. 

The Philadelphia Orchestra will perform Patrick Doyle’s magical score, which won both the International Film Music Critics (IFMCA) and ASCAP Film and Television Music Award, live while the entire film plays in high-definition on a 40-foot screen. 

WIZARDING WORLD and all related trademarks, characters, names, and indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s23

Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply). Learn more at www.spac.org.

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Beethoven’s Seventh

August 9 at 7:30 PM—Wednesday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs

Roderick Cox Conductor

Philippe Tondre Oboe

Walker                         Lyric for Strings

Mozart                         Oboe Concerto

Beethoven                   Symphony No. 7

Roderick Cox, 2018 winner of the Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award, makes his SPAC debut conducting Beethoven’s jubilant and exhilarating Symphony No. 7. Also making his SPAC debut, Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Oboe Philippe Tondre will perform Mozart’s Oboe Concerto in an evening of classical favorites.

Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply). Learn more at www.spac.org.

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An Evening with Audra McDonald

August 10 at 7:30 PM—Thursday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs

Andy Einhorn Conductor

Audra McDonald Soprano

Emmy-, GRAMMY-, and six-time Tony Award–winning icon Audra McDonald will join The Philadelphia Orchestra for a night of Broadway favorites featuring Rodgers and Hammerstein, George Gershwin, and Stephen Sondheim, among others. In addition to receiving a National Medal of the Arts from President Barack Obama, she was also named one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2015. She also stars in CBS’s The Good Fight and HBO’s The Gilded Age.

Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply). Learn more at www.spac.org.

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Rachmaninoff at 150

August 11 at 7:30 PM—Friday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor

Bruce Liu Piano

Rachmaninoff              Piano Concerto No. 2

Rachmaninoff              Symphony No. 3

Join The Philadelphia Orchestra and Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin for a Rachmaninoff 150th birthday celebration! Featuring the towering Symphony No. 3 and beloved Second Piano Concerto, this all-Rachmaninoff evening includes the SPAC debut of pianist Bruce Liu, winner of the 2021 Chopin International Piano Competition.

Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply). Learn more at www.spac.org.

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Rite of Spring & Blessed Earth

August 12 at 7:30 PM—Saturday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor

Meigui Zhang Soprano

The Crossing

Donald Nally Artistic Director

J.L. Adams                  Vespers of the Blessed Earth

Stravinsky                   The Rite of Spring

The Rite of Spring, Igor Stravinsky’s vivid reflection on ancient pagan rituals, still astounds more than a century after its riotous Parisian premiere. John Luther Adams’s Vespers of the Blessed Earth references humanity’s impact on the Earth. He told the Philadelphia Inquirer, “The music I’m writing now is an expression of grief and faith in the possibility of human redemption.” Philadelphia-based choral group The Crossing joins Yannick and the Orchestra, making its SPAC debut with this transformative performance.

Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply). Learn more at www.spac.org.

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The Four Seasons with Gil Shaham

August 16 at 7:30 PM—Wednesday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs

Gil Shaham Leader and Violin

Saint-Georges             Violin Concerto No. 9

Vivaldi                         The Four Seasons

One of the world’s great violinists, Gil Shaham returns to SPAC for the first time in a decade. Pulling double-duty, Shaham will lead the Orchestra and perform as soloist in a special program of SPAC premieres, featuring Vivaldi’s iconic Four Seasons.

Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply). Learn more at www.spac.org.

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Yo-Yo Ma plays Dvořák

August 17 at 7:30 PM—Thursday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs

Xian Zhang Conductor

Yo-Yo Ma Cello

Prokofiev                     Symphony No. 5

Dvořák                         Cello Concerto

World renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma returns to SPAC to perform Dvořák’s Cello Concerto, one of the most technically challenging pieces and a crown jewel of the repertoire. The evening begins with Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5, led by conductor Xian Zhang, making her SPAC debut.

Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply). Learn more at www.spac.org.

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Earth: An HD Odyssey

August 18 at 7:30 PM—Friday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs

Edwin Outwater Conductor

Bates                           Philharmonia Fantastique—First Philadelphia Orchestra Performance

Adams                         Short Ride in a Fast Machine

Strauss                        Also sprach Zarathustra

Philharmonia Fantastique is an original score by Mason Bates. The film follows a musical sprite that explores the different instruments of the orchestra and the connection between music, sound, performance, creativity, and technology.

Earth: An HD Odyssey features ravishing images of our planet set to the music of John Adams and Richard Strauss, shown on a large LED screen. The opening notes of Strauss’s Also sprach Zarathustra are recognizable by anyone who has seen 2001: A Space Odyssey!

Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply). Learn more at www.spac.org.

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Jurassic Park in Concert

August 19 at 7:30 PM—Saturday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs

Constantine Kitsopoulos Conductor

Williams                      Jurassic Park (complete with film)

The action-packed adventure pits man against prehistoric predators in the ultimate battle for survival. Featuring visually stunning imagery and groundbreaking special effects, this epic film is sheer movie magic 65 million years in the making.

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the original film, experience Jurassic Park projected in HD alongside The Philadelphia Orchestra performing John Williams’s iconic score live to picture.

Jurassic Park is a trademark and copyright of Universal Studios and Amblin Entertainment, Inc. Licensed by Universal Studios. All rights reserved.

Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply). Learn more at www.spac.org.