| Pride Celebration and Concert in Marian Anderson Hall led by Marin Alsop with drag queen Sapphira Cristál (June 25) Our City, Your Orchestra Live at Temple Performing Arts Center, featuring a new set of definitive orchestral materials of William Grant Still’s Wood Notes(June 26) Patriotic concert in Marian Anderson Hall, part of FREE Party on the Plaza and the Wawa Welcome America festival (June 29) Residency at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts (June 18, 20, 22; July 24, 25, 27) Bravo! Vail Music Festival (July 4–12) Saratoga Performing Arts Center (July 31–August 17) |
| (Philadelphia, PA—May 14, 2024)—The Philadelphia Orchestra announces the addition of three FREE community concerts in June: the third annual Pride Concert led by Principal Guest Conductor Designate Marin Alsop and featuring drag queen Sapphira Cristál; Our City, Your Orchestra Live at Temple Performing Arts Center; and a patriotic concert as part of the FREE Party on the Plaza and the Wawa Welcome America festival. In addition, the Orchestra will return to its summer homes at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia; the Bravo! Vail Music Festival in Vail, Colorado; and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, New York. The performances will showcase the Orchestra in a wide range of works from innovative new pieces like Mason Bates’s Nomad Concerto to well-known classics like Puccini’s La bohème, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, and Orff’s Carmina burana, to genre-crossing collaborations. The impressive list of guest artists includes John Legend, Yo-Yo Ma, Angélique Kidjo, the Marcus Roberts Trio, Beck, Gil Shaham, and more. Pride Celebration and Concert Fresh off her appearance on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Philadelphia drag queen and classically trained opera singer Sapphira Cristál will join The Philadelphia Orchestra and Principal Guest Conductor Designate Marin Alsop to host the third annual Pride Concert in Marian Anderson Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday, June 25, at 7:00 PM. The ANNA Crusis Feminist Choir, Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus, and Philadelphia Voices of Pride will join the Orchestra for works by Bernstein, Copland, Tchaikovsky, Higdon, and more. The concert is free, but tickets are required and will be available at www.philorch.org/pride beginning on June 6. Seating is general admission and on a first-come, first-served basis. Our City, Your Orchestra Live at Temple Performing Arts Center Your Philadelphia Orchestra will travel up Broad Street for a free community festival and performance on Wednesday, June 26, at 7:00 PM at the Temple Performing Arts Center. Led by Assistant Conductor Austin Chanu, the Our City, Your Orchestra Live performance will bring 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—to in-person audiences with the full Orchestra. The concert will celebrate the North Philadelphia community and will feature works by Adolphus Hailstork; Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges; Scott Joplin; Florence Price; Duke Ellington; Jessie Montgomery; and William Grant Still. As part of the Orchestra’s ongoing exploration of the works of Black American composer Still, Principal Librarian Nicole Jordan and Chanu have created a new set of definitive orchestral materials of his Wood Notes that will be used for the first time in this performance, made possible by a generous grant from the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage. Tickets for the concert are free, but reservations are encouraged and will be available at www.philorch.org/ocyo-live on May 30. Patriotic Concert as part of the FREE Party on the Plaza In association with Wawa Welcome America and the Avenue of the Arts, The Philadelphia Orchestra will perform a patriotic concert as part of the FREE Party on the Plaza to kick off a weeklong Independence Day celebration on Saturday, June 29, at 12:00 PM in Marian Anderson Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Guests can take a break from the heat of the annual Avenue of the Arts Block Party to hear conductor Jeff Tyzik lead the Orchestra in Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and “Liberty Bell” marches, selections from John Williams’s scores for The Patriot and Lincoln, and more works honoring our nation and service members. The performance will include the world premiere of Tyzik’s Lift Off, which was commissioned by Bravo! Vail in honor of Tyzik’s 30th year at the Festival. In addition, Fox 29 reporter Hank Flynn, an Army veteran, will narrate a performance of Gardens of Stone by James Beckel, Jr. The concert will also have special guests in attendance—Seeing Eye® puppies from The Seeing Eye. The experience will help to acclimate the puppies in navigating public spaces and special events. The concert is free, but tickets are required and will be available at www.philorch.org/party-on-the-plaza/ beginning on May 17. Seating is general admission and on a first-come, first-served basis. Mann Center for the Performing Arts The Philadelphia Orchestra kicks off its summer series at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts with the annual Tchaikovsky Spectacular led by Assistant Conductor Austin Chanu, featuring performances of the composer’s Sixth Symphony, selections from Swan Lake, and culminating with the 1812 Overture and a fireworks display (June 18). Indie/roots band DISPATCH will also join the Orchestra for a concert featuring all-new symphonic arrangements of the band’s classic songs (June 22). In July, the Orchestra will continue its celebration of the 100th anniversary of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with a performance of the timeless piece with the Marcus Roberts Trio, led by Assistant Conductor Tristan Rais-Sherman (July 24). Legendary pioneer of alternative rock and eight-time GRAMMY® Award-winner Beck will join the Orchestra for an evening of classical arrangements of his indie rock hits (July 25). Audiences can also experience the first Philadelphia Orchestra live-score performances of two iconic films: Batman (June 20) and Disney’s Aladdin (July 27), which will be shown on giant screens. Bravo! Vail Music Festival Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin will join the Philadelphians in the pastoral Rocky Mountains for three concerts as part of the Orchestra’s 17th year at the Bravo! Vail Music Festival, including two highly anticipated performances of Puccini’s La bohème. An all-star cast of soloists including Nicole Car, Gabriella Reyes, Stephen Costello, and Étienne Dupuis will join the Orchestra and full chorus in a staged production of the iconic opera (July 10, 12). In addition, Nézet-Séguin will lead the Philadelphians in Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony and Mason Bates’s Nomad Concerto featuring violinist Gil Shaham. Principal Guest Conductor Designate Marin Alsop will lead the Orchestra in two concerts at the Festival, including an evening of works by Gershwin and Bernstein featuring Conrad Tao in Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F (July 5) and Holst’s The Planets paired with Reena Esmail’s RE|Member featuring Principal Oboe Philippe Tondre and Copland’s Appalachian Spring Suite (July 6). Jeff Tyzik will kick off the residency with a patriotic concert on the Fourth of July, including a full suite of music celebrating our nation and service members, and his own new work, Lift Off, which was commissioned by Bravo! Vail in honor of Tyzik’s 30th year at the Festival (July 4). 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 Nézet-Séguin and a host of special guests for a diverse series of performances at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. David Robertson will lead the Orchestra in the first performances of the residency, beginning with the annual Tchaikovsky Spectacular, featuring Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with George Li, in a celebratory evening punctuated with a fireworks display (July 31). Robertson will continue the Orchestra’s year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Rhapsody in Blue with a special performance of the piece with the Marcus Roberts Trio (August 1). Five-time GRAMMY® Award-winner and African music icon Angélique Kidjo will join The Philadelphia Orchestra in an all-new program featuring a mix of popular African songs and original works led by Miguel Harth-Bedoya (August 2). Emmy, GRAMMY®, Oscar®, and Tony® Award-winner John Legend will kick off the second week of concerts in a special program featuring intimate reimagining’s of his greatest hits (“All of Me,” “Ordinary People,” “Tonight”), unexpected stories from Legend’s life and career, and selections from his most recent release LEGEND (“Nervous,” “Wonder Woman”) led by conductor Anthony Parnther (August 7). Nézet-Séguin will join the Orchestra to lead Schumann’s Konzertstück for horns and orchestra and Strauss’s An Alpine Symphony (August 8). Fabio Luisi will lead two programs to close out the week, including an all-Brahms evening featuring the Violin Concerto with Bomsori Kim paired with his Symphony No. 4 (August 9), and Orff’s iconic Carmina burana (August 10). Violinist Gil Shaham will return to perform Mason Bates’s Nomad Concerto, a Philadelphia Orchestra co-commission that received its world premiere in Verizon Hall by the Orchestra and Shaham in January, paired with Sibelius’s Symphony No. 5 led by Dalia Stasevska (August 14). Stasevska will then lead the Orchestra in performances of Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 (August 15). The globally celebrated cellist Yo-Yo Ma will perform Dvořák’s Cello Concerto on a program including Nokuthula Ngwenyama’s Primal Message and Kodály’s Dances of Galánta, led by Xian Zhang (August 16). Audiences can enjoy movies under the stars with a live soundtrack by Your Philadelphia Orchestra with performances of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix™ in Concert (August 3) and Disney’s The Lion King in Concert (August 17). The Philadelphia Orchestra Summer Calendar June 18–August 17, 2024 Tchaikovsky Spectacular June 18 at 8:00 PM—Tuesday evening—Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia Austin Chanu Conductor Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 (“Pathétique”) Tchaikovsky Selections from Swan Lake Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture Pack a picnic and join us for our annual summer tradition as The Philadelphia Orchestra, led by Austin Chanu, returns to TD Pavilion at the Mann on June 18 for an evening of Tchaikovsky’s greatest works. We’ll begin the evening with Tchaikovsky’s emotional Symphony No. 6, the last of his symphonies to premiere in his lifetime. Following this will be selections from the lush and romantic Suite from Swan Lake, featuring some of Tchaikovsky’s most memorable melodies. We’ll finish the evening with the rousing 1812 Overture, culminating in an epic display of fireworks against the gorgeous Philadelphia skyline! Tickets are on sale now via MannCenter.org, Ticketmaster.com, and the Mann Ticket Office. Batman in Concert June 20 at 8:00 PM—Thursday evening—Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia Anthony Parnther Conductor Elfman/Prince Batman (complete with film)—First Complete Philadelphia Orchestra Performance Celebrate the 35th anniversary of the iconic film Batman in a whole new way! On June 20, don’t miss Batman in Concert with The Philadelphia Orchestra at the TD Pavilion at the Mann. Projected on a larger-than-life screen, the 1989 blockbuster starring Michael Keaton as Batman will come to life as The Philadelphia Orchestra performs Danny Elfman’s thrilling score live to picture. Pack a picnic and join us for a perfect night under the stars. Released June 23, 1989, Warner Bros. Pictures’ DC Super Hero film Batman was the top-grossing movie that year and has remained a fan-favorite for more than three decades. The film was Elfman’s first collaboration with director Tim Burton and was later nominated for a GRAMMY®. The “Batman Theme” has become an iconic piece, evoking the Caped Crusader for many generations. In Batman, the Dark Knight, the defender of law and order in Gotham City, treads the shadow zone between right and wrong, fighting with only his skill in martial arts and his keenly honed mind to defend the innocent and to purge the memory of his parents’ brutal murder—always keeping his true identity as millionaire philanthropist Bruce Wayne a closely guarded secret. Tickets are on sale now via MannCenter.org, Ticketmaster.com, and the Mann Ticket Office. |
| DISPATCH with The Philadelphia Orchestra June 22 at 8:00 PM—Saturday evening—Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia Edwin Outwater Conductor DISPATCH—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut Join us on June 22 at the TD Pavilion at the Mann for a night of indie/roots-orchestral fusion as DISPATCH plays its premiere performance with The Philadelphia Orchestra! This concert will feature all-new symphonic arrangements of the band’s classic songs. DISPATCH released its eighth studio release, Break Our Fall, in the spring of 2021. The songs on this record speak not only to the band’s personal evolution, but also to human nature itself, charting a course from denial and resistance to growth and acceptance through deep introspection and empathetic character studies. The music is pure DISPATCH, and the five-piece continues to grow and push their boundaries, taking surprise turns without ever abandoning the signature sound that’s made them one of independent rock’s most indelible acts over the last two-and-a-half decades. The songs on Break Our Fall blend infectious roots rock with hints of reggae, folk, and blues, and leave plenty of space for some of the group’s most pointed, political lyrics to date. The result is an ode to resilience and survival, a timely and essential album that still manages to find hope and joy on even the darkest of days. Our Fabulous Philadelphians paired with DISPATCH will be a summer evening of unforgettable, heartfelt music under the stars! Tickets are on sale now via MannCenter.org, Ticketmaster.com, and the Mann Ticket Office. |
| FREE Pride Celebration and Concert with The Philadelphia Orchestra June 25 at 7:00 PM—Tuesday evening—Marian Anderson Hall, Philadelphia Marin Alsop Conductor Sapphira Cristál Host—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut ANNA Crusis Feminist Choir Miriam Davidson Artistic Director Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus Joseph J. Buches Artistic Director Philadelphia Voices of Pride Daniel Schwartz Artistic Director Program to include: Bernstein Overture to Candide Copland Excerpt from Appalachian Spring Suite Edwards and Rodgers “We Are Family”—First Philadelphia Orchestra Performance Maggio “As Long as We Live (Allons! Allons!),” from Open Road—First Philadelphia Orchestra Performance Higdon Fanfare Ritmico Tchaikovsky Third movement from Symphony No. 6 (“Pathétique”) The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts celebrate Pride with free plaza events and a special one-night-only Orchestra performance hosted by Sapphira Cristál! Join The Philadelphia Orchestra and incoming Principal Guest Conductor Marin Alsop for our third annual FREE Pride Concert! Fresh off her appearance on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Philadelphia drag queen Sapphira Cristál will host this fabulous celebration of unity, empowerment, and the Philadelphia region’s LGBTQ+ community. The concert will feature music by LGBTQ+ composers and allies including works by Bernstein, Copland, and more. Joining in on the fun are the ANNA Crusis Feminist Choir, the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus, and Philadelphia Voices of Pride. The concert is free, but tickets are required and will be available at www.philorch.org/pride beginning on June 6. Seating is general admission and on a first-come, first-served basis. |
| Our City, Your Orchestra Live June 26 at 7:00 PM—Wednesday evening—Temple Performing Arts Center, Philadelphia Austin Chanu Conductor Hailstork Fanfare on “Amazing Grace” Still First movement from Symphony No. 4 (“Autochthonous”) Saint-Georges First movement from Symphony No. 2 Joplin “Maple Leaf” Rag Price Dances in the Canebrakes—First Philadelphia Orchestra Performance Ellington “Brown (Come Sunday),” from Black, Brown, and Beige Montgomery Starburst Still Wood Notes—First Philadelphia Orchestra Performance The Philadelphia Orchestra is traveling up Broad Street to Temple University for a FREE community performance honoring North Philadelphia and the surrounding community! Featuring works by Adolphus Hailstork; Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges; Scott Joplin; Florence Price; Duke Ellington; Jessie Montgomery; and William Grant Still, this concert highlights incredible Black composers that have often been overlooked by the classical music world, as well as contemporary composers that are blazing a trail for new voices on the scene. 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 for the concert are free, but reservations are encouraged and will be available at www.philorch.org/ocyo-live on May 30. |
| Patriot Concert as part of the FREE Party on the Plaza June 29 at 12:00 PM—Saturday afternoon—Marian Anderson Hall, Philadelphia Jeff Tyzik Conductor Hank Flynn Narrator—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut Williams Liberty Fanfare Sousa “Liberty Bell” March Various The Great Westerns Suite—First Philadelphia Orchestra Performance Copland “Hoe Down,” from Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo Williams “With Malice toward None,” from Lincoln—First Philadelphia Orchestra Performance Alford “Colonel Bogey” March Tyzik Lift Off—World Premiere Bagley “National Emblem” March Various Fantasy on American Themes—First Philadelphia Orchestra Performance Williams “The Patriot,” from The Patriot Beckel, Jr. Gardens of Stone—First Philadelphia Orchestra Performance Various Armed Forces Song Medley—First Philadelphia Orchestra Performance Sousa “The Stars and Stripes Forever” March Join The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts as we pay homage to America’s independence with a FREE concert and celebration! In association with Wawa Welcome America and the Avenue of the Arts, we are kicking off the annual weeklong celebration of Independence Day with a patriotic concert. Take a break from the heat of the annual Avenue of the Arts Block Party to hear conductor Jeff Tyzik lead the Orchestra in beloved works like Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever” March and “Liberty Bell” March, selections from John Williams’s scores for The Patriot and Lincoln, and more all honoring our nation and service members. The lineup on the Kimmel Center’s Plaza stage includes Philly favorite Omar’s Hat and a Soulful line dance demonstration with The Parkside Experience featuring DJ Chris Blues and W.D.O.H. If Broadway is more your style you won’t want to miss the performance from Les Misérables cast member Emily Bautista and Hamiltunes, the official Hamilton sing-along! The concert is free, but tickets are required and will be available at www.philorch.org/party-on-the-plaza/ beginning on May 17. Seating is general admission and on a first-come, first-served basis. |
| Independence Day with The Philadelphia Orchestra July 4 at 2:00 PM—Thursday afternoon—Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, Vail Jeff Tyzik Conductor Williams Liberty Fanfare Sousa “Liberty Bell” March Various The Great Westerns Suite Copland “Hoe Down,” from Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo Williams “With Malice toward None,” from Lincoln Alford “Colonel Bogey” March Tyzik Lift Off Bagley “National Emblem” March Various Fantasy on American Themes Williams “The Patriot,” from The Patriot Beckel, Jr. Gardens of Stone Various Armed Forces Song Medley Sousa “The Stars and Stripes Forever” March Audience favorite Jeff Tyzik opens The Philadelphia Orchestra’s residency in a program celebrating Independence Day, including the local premiere of his own work Lift Off, commissioned by Bravo! Vail in honor of his 30th year at the Festival. Tickets are available through the Box Office, by calling 877.812.5700, or by visiting www.bravovail.org. |
| Alsop Conducts Gershwin and Bernstein July 5 at 6:00 PM—Friday evening—Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, Vail Marin Alsop Conductor Conrad Tao Piano Gershwin Cuban Overture Bernstein Symphonic Dances from West Side Story Gershwin Piano Concerto in F Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Guest Conductor Designate Marin Alsop returns to Bravo! Vail leading the Orchestra in Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from his iconic West Side Story, in addition to Gershwin’s Cuban Overture and Piano Concerto in F major featuring critically acclaimed pianist Conrad Tao. Tickets are available through the Box Office, by calling 877.812.5700, or by visiting www.bravovail.org. |
| Holst’s The Planets Conducted by Alsop July 6 at 6:00 PM—Saturday evening—Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, Vail Marin Alsop Conductor The Evans Choir—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut Catherine Sailer Director Esmail RE|Member Copland Appalachian Spring Suite Holst The Planets Explore the solar system with The Philadelphia Orchestra in Holst’s legendary and popular work The Planets in a program that also includes Copland’s American masterpiece Appalachian Spring Suite, led by Alsop. Tickets are available through the Box Office, by calling 877.812.5700, or by visiting www.bravovail.org.Puccini’s La bohème July 10 at 6:00 PM—Wednesday evening—Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, Vail July 12 at 6:00 PM—Friday evening—Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, Vail Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor Nicole Car Soprano (Mimì) Stephen Costello Tenor (Rodolfo) Gabriella Reyes Soprano (Musetta)—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut Étienne Dupuis Baritone (Marcello)—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut Krzysztof Baczyk Bass (Colline) Alexey Lavrov Baritone (Schaunard) Donald Maxwell Baritone (Benoit/Alcindoro) Bravo! Vail Festival Chorus Duain Wolfe Director Colorado Children’s Chorale Emily Crile Director Paula Suozzi Stage Director Noele Stollmack Production Designer Puccini La bohème Opera returns to Bravo! Vail with Puccini’s beloved La bohème, performed by the Orchestra and led by Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin. This staged production involves a full chorus, costume and set design, and an all-star cast of singers including Nicole Car, Gabriella Reyes, Stephen Costello, Étienne Dupuis, and more. Tickets are available through the Box Office, by calling 877.812.5700, or by visiting www.bravovail.org. |
| Nézet-Séguin Conducts Rachmaninoff July 11 at 6:00 PM—Thursday evening—Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, Vail Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor Gil Shaham Violin Bates Nomad Concerto, for violin and orchestra Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2 Legendary violinist Gil Shaham joins Yannick and The Philadelphia Orchestra in the Bravo! Vail premiere of Mason Bate’s explosive Nomad Concerto in a program that includes Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2. Tickets are available through the Box Office, by calling 877.812.5700, or by visiting www.bravovail.org. Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue July 24 at 8:00 PM—Wednesday evening—Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia Tristan Rais-Sherman Conductor Marcus Roberts Trio Hailstork An American Port of Call—First Philadelphia Orchestra Performance Price Symphony No. 3 Johnson Victory Stride Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue Take a trip back with us to the Roaring ’20s as we celebrate the 100-year anniversary of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Pack a picnic and join us for a night of jazz-inspired orchestral works with The Philadelphia Orchestra and Marcus Roberts Trio, conducted by Tristan Rais-Sherman on July 24! Tickets are on sale now via MannCenter.org, Ticketmaster.com, and the Mann Ticket Office. Beck with The Philadelphia Orchestra July 25 at 8:00 PM—Thursday evening—Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia Steven Reineke Conductor Beck Vocalist—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut Join us for an extraordinary evening as Beck, the legendary pioneer of alternative rock and eight-time GRAMMY® Award-winner, takes the stage with the prestigious Philadelphia Orchestra. Renowned for his genre-defying sound and innovative approach to music, Beck will showcase selections from his vast catalogue alongside stunning orchestral arrangements. This unique collaboration promises a one-of-a-kind experience, blending Beck’s signature style with the rich depth and dynamic range of a full orchestra. As the title of his most recent album, Hyperspace, might imply, Beck has traveled light years from his emergence as a reluctant generational spokesperson when “Loser” exploded from a rejected 1992 demo into a ubiquitous 1994 smash. In the decades since, his singular career has seen him explore all genres and eras of music, blurring boundaries and blazing a path into the future while foraging through the past. Beginning with his 1994 debut Mellow Gold, Beck’s creative evolution has always progressed at an exponential rate. From 1996’s multi-platinum cultural touchstone Odelay to 1998’s world-tripping Mutations and the florescent funk of 1999’s Midnite Vultures, 2002’s somber Sea Change, 2005’s platinum tour de force Guero, 2006’s sprawling The Information, 2008’s acclaimed Modern Guilt, 2014’s Album of the Year GRAMMY® winner Morning Phase, the “euphoric blast of experimental pop” (Rolling Stone) that was 2017’s Colors, and his 2019 “best in a decade” (People) Hyperspace, no Beck record has ever sounded like its predecessor. The New York Times notes a consistent thread: “Though Beck’s records through the years have tended toward maximalism, a kind of meticulous sonic gorgeousness, melody remains central to his art.” Tickets are on sale now via MannCenter.org, Ticketmaster.com, and the Mann Ticket Office. |
| Disney’s Aladdin In Concert July 27 at 8:00 PM—Saturday evening—Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia Susie Bechasil Seiter Conductor—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut Menken Aladdin (complete with film)—First Complete Philadelphia Orchestra Performance Pack a picnic, grab your magic carpet, and join us for a mystical evening under the stars on July 27 as the Mann presents Aladdin In Concert with the Oscar, Golden Globe®, and GRAMMY®-winning score performed live by The Philadelphia Orchestra in the TD Pavilion at the Mann! Aladdin is a street-smart young thief in the mythical city of Agrabah who meets and falls in love with the Sultan’s beautiful daughter, Jasmine, a liberated young lady who seeks to escape her present lifestyle. Help comes when the evil vizier, Jafar, plots to get a magic lamp for his own rise to power and decides he needs Aladdin, a true “diamond in the rough,” to seek the lamp in the Cave of Wonders. Aladdin and his friend, the monkey Abu, gain the lamp and the wise-cracking Genie (Robin Williams) inside for themselves. The Genie changes Aladdin into a prince so he can woo the princess, but the deception fails to impress Jasmine. As his true self, however, he uses his cunning and courage, with the help of the Genie, to defeat Jafar and his evil plans, in the end earning a princely title and the princess. Lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken collaborated on six songs, including “Arabian Nights,” “Friend Like Me,” and “Prince Ali.” After Ashman’s death in 1991, Tim Rice wrote additional lyrics, notably “One Jump Ahead” and “A Whole New World.” The film won Academy Awards® for Best Song (“A Whole New World”) and Best Original Score. Tickets are on sale now via MannCenter.org, Ticketmaster.com, and the Mann Ticket Office. |
| Tchaikovsky Spectacular July 31 at 7:30 PM—Wednesday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs David Robertson Conductor George Li Piano—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut Tchaikovsky “Polonaise,” from Eugene Onegin Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 Tchaikovsky Romeo and Juliet Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture Conductor David Robertson, an American music visionary, returns to SPAC for the first time in over a decade leading the Orchestra in a dazzling evening of Tchaikovsky featuring the 1812 Overture with live canon fire and a brilliant fireworks display. Pianist and International Tchaikovsky Competition Silver Medalist George Li makes his Philadelphia Orchestra and SPAC debuts performing the Piano Concerto No. 1. Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply), or at www.spac.org. |
| Rhapsody in Blue Celebrates 100 August 1 at 7:30 PM—Thursday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs David Robertson Conductor Marcus Roberts Trio Johnson Victory Stride Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Gershwin’s iconic Rhapsody in Blue with legendary jazz pianist Marcus Roberts and his Trio alongside the Orchestra. The program continues with one of the Orchestra’s signature pieces, Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances, written for and premiered by The Philadelphia Orchestra. Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply), or at www.spac.org. Angélique Kidjo with The Philadelphia Orchestra August 2 at 7:30 PM—Friday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs Miguel Harth-Bedoya Conductor Angélique Kidjo Vocalist Following her 2023 Saratoga Jazz Festival debut, five-time GRAMMY® Award-winner and African music icon Angélique Kidjo joins The Philadelphia Orchestra in an all-new program featuring a mix of African songs and original works. Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply), or at www.spac.org. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in Concert August 3 at 7:30 PM—Saturday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs Justin Freer Conductor Hooper Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix™ (complete with film)—First Philadelphia Orchestra Performance The Harry Potter Film Concert Series returns with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in Concert, the fifth film in the series. Experience the magic of Harry Potter™ soaring across the big screen in high definition, while The Philadelphia Orchestra performs Nicholas Hooper’s unforgettable score. Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply), or at www.spac.org. WIZARDING WORLD and all related trademarks, characters, names, and indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s24) |
| An Evening with John Legend: A Night of Songs and Stories with The Philadelphia Orchestra August 7 at 7:15 PM—Wednesday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs Anthony Parnther Conductor John Legend Vocalist and Piano—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut Emmy, 12-time GRAMMY®, Oscar®, and Tony® Award-winner John Legend joins The Philadelphia Orchestra led by conductor Anthony Parnther in an all-new program of his greatest hits and recent releases. Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply), or at www.spac.org. |
| Yannick Conducts An Alpine Symphony August 8 at 7:30 PM—Thursday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor Jennifer Montone Horn Jeffrey Lang Horn Chelsea McFarland Horn Christopher Dwyer Horn Ernesto Tovar Torres Horn Schumann Konzertstück, for horns and orchestra Strauss An Alpine Symphony Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Strauss’s An Alpine Symphony, the composer’s powerful and passionate ode to nature. The program opens with the SPAC premiere of Robert Schumann’s Konzertstück for horns and orchestra. Wholly unique in its nature, the work highlights horns as the soloist in a wild and furious score designed to showcase the unparalleled virtuosity of the Fabulous Philadelphians. Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply), or at www.spac.org. |
| An Evening of Brahms with Fabio Luisi August 9 at 7:30 PM—Friday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs Fabio Luisi Conductor Bomsori Kim Violin—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut Brahms Violin Concerto Brahms Symphony No. 4 Fabio Luisi makes his SPAC debut with an evening of Brahms, featuring the beloved Fourth Symphony and Violin Concerto with internationally acclaimed violinist Bomsori Kim for her Philadelphia Orchestra and SPAC debuts. Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply), or at www.spac.org. |
| Carmina burana August 10 at 7:30 PM—Saturday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs Fabio Luisi Conductor Audrey Luna Soprano Sunnyboy Dladla Tenor Sean Michael Plumb Baritone Albany Pro Music José Daniel Flores-Carabello Artistic Director Philadelphia Boys Choir Jeffrey R. Smith Artistic Director Philadelphia Girls Choir Nathan Wadley Artistic Director Beethoven Symphony No. 8 Orff Carmina burana Carl Orff’s iconic Carmina burana is back at SPAC for the first time in over 15 years. This choral and orchestral masterpiece features maestro Fabio Luisi and an international roster of vocalists alongside the capital region’s own Albany Pro Musica. Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply), or at www.spac.org. |
| Gil Shaham Performs Bates August 14 at 7:30 PM—Wednesday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs Dalia Stasevska Conductor Gil Shaham Violin Bates Nomad Concerto, for violin and orchestra Sibelius Symphony No. 5 Following the success of his performance in 2023, Gil Shaham returns to perform a new violin concerto by Mason Bates, one of today’s leading American composers. Led by Finnish conductor Dalia Stasevska making her SPAC debut, the evening closes with her fellow countryman Jean Sibelius’s Symphony No. 5. Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply), or at www.spac.org. |
| Dvořák’s Eighth Symphony August 15 at 7:30 PM—Thursday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs Dalia Stasevska Conductor Bartók Concerto for Orchestra Dvořák Symphony No. 8 Dalia Stasevska leads the Orchestra in a sensational program of orchestral masterpieces. Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra has become a fixture of the repertoire and serves as a showcase for the Fabulous Philadelphians. The work has a local connection having been composed in 1943 in Saranac Lake, NY. The evening closes with Dvořák’s joyous and triumphant Symphony No. 8, which has not been performed at SPAC in over a decade. Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply), or at www.spac.org. |
| Yo-Yo Ma Plays Dvořák August 16 at 7:30 PM—Friday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs Xian Zhang Conductor Yo-Yo Ma Cello Ngwenyama Primal Message—First Philadelphia Orchestra Performance Kodály Dances of Galánta Dvořák Cello Concerto The incomparable Yo-Yo Ma, beloved by SPAC audiences, returns to perform Dvořák’s Cello Concerto under the baton of conductor Xian Zhang. Opening the evening are two SPAC premieres by composers Nokuthula Ngwenyama and Zoltán Kodály. Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply), or at www.spac.org. |
| Disney’s The Lion King in Concert August 17 at 7:30 PM—Saturday evening—Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs Damon Gupton Conductor Zimmer and John The Lion King (complete with film) Thirty years after the original release, experience Disney’s The Lion King on the big screen, as the Orchestra performs Hans Zimmer’s Oscar-winning musical score live. Featuring unforgettable music from superstar Elton John and award-winning lyricist Tim Rice, and African vocal and choir arrangements by the GRAMMY® Award–winning South African producer and composer Lebo M (Rhythm of the Pride Lands). Tickets are available from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 518.584.9330 (handling fees apply), or at www.spac.org. |
| Yannick Nézet-Séguin holds the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Chair. Marin Alsop will hold the Ralph and Beth Johnston Muller Chair. Jennifer Montone holds the Gray Charitable Trust Chair. Jeffrey Lang holds the Hannah L. and J. Welles Henderson Chair. Programs featuring the music of William Grant Still are supported by the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. The Bates co-commission was made possible through the generous support of Joseph and Bette Hirsch and Carol Kaganov. 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. |
| About The Philadelphia Orchestra About Yannick Nézet-Séguin About the 2023-24 Season Our Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Strategies (IDEAS) |