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Witness to History

Wolfgang Sawallisch Trades the Podium for the Piano in a Once-in-a-Lifetime Concert

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Picture this: A blizzard threatens the cancellation of a Philadelphia Orchestra concert, but its music director ensures that the show must go on for anyone who can still make it to the Academy of Music. Violinist Davyd Booth recounts this memorable night in 1994 when Wolfgang Sawallisch traded the podium for the piano for a program of Wagner vocal excerpts.  

Witness to History is an oral history series in celebration of The Philadelphia Orchestra’s 125th anniversary and the upcoming 25th anniversary of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Hear personal stories from the artists, leaders, and community members who helped to shape the ensemble’s legacy and paved the way for a bold future.