Sunday

2:00 pm
THE RITE OF SPRING / THIBAUDET / MAHLER / BEETHOVEN / RATTLE

The Verdi Requiem

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Yannick Nézet-Séguin - Conductor

Marina Poplavskaya - Soprano

Christine Rice - Mezzo-soprano

Rolando Villazón - Tenor

Mikhail Petrenko - Bass

The Westminster Symphonic Choir - Mixed chorus

program

Verdi - Requiem

A monumental work for a monumental occasion—the inaugural concerts of The Philadelphia Orchestra’s eighth music director. continuing his exploration of the great requiems, Yannick has assembled an international cast of spectacular vocalists for the profound drama and operatic style of Verdi’s revered Requiem. The thundering of the famous “Dies irae,” the brass choirs throughout the hall, and the multitude of voices raised to the heavens combine to create a powerful musical experience.

A Taste of Paris

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Stéphane Denève - Conductor

program

Debussy - Images

Poulenc - Suite from Les Biches

Gershwin - An American in Paris

Take a musical journey from French Impressionism to jazz. Debussy’s Images contains some of his boldest writing. The charming Suite from Poulenc’s ballet Les Biches, originally composed for the Ballets Russes, is filled with humorous, syncopated melodies. In An American in Paris, Gershwin vividly depicts taxi horns, smoky cafés, and falling in love in the city of light.

Philadelphia Firsts

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Yannick Nézet-Séguin - Conductor

Jean-Yves Thibaudet - Piano

Ridge Theater Company - Dancer(s)

program

Knussen - New Work (world premiere)

Ravel - Piano Concerto in G major

Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring

Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring received its U.S. premiere in Philadelphia, under Stokowski’s direction. Now, in a first-of-its-kind partnership with Philadelphia Live Arts, The Philadelphia Orchestra collaborates with the New York-based Ridge Theater to present a 21st-century treatment of The Rite of Spring with dancers, video projection, and theatrical lighting. Philadelphia also gave the first American performances of Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G and will perform a world premiere by British composer Oliver Knussen.

Beethoven's "Eroica"

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Christoph von Dohnányi - Conductor

Rudolf Buchbinder - Piano

program

Lutoslawski - Funeral Music

Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 20, K. 466

Beethoven - Symphony No. 3 ("Eroica")

Beethoven’s “Eroica” Symphony was originally dedicated to Napoleon, but perhaps the real hero of this Symphony is the composer himself. Beethoven was a revolutionary of his time and continues to influence music being written today. Mozart was equally progressive, especially in his Piano Concerto No. 20, which was unusual for its bold, syncopated rhythms and chromatic melodies.

Hilary Hahn Returns

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Yannick Nézet-Séguin - Conductor

Hilary Hahn - Violin

program

Strauss - Love Scene from Feuersnot

Korngold - Violin Concerto

Mahler - Symphony No. 1

Hilary Hahn returns to Philadelphia for Korngold’s Violin concerto. This colorful and cinematic score stemmed from his success in Hollywood writing many treasured film soundtracks. Trademark fanfares, folk melodies, and thunderous crescendos punctuate Mahler’s First Symphony, along with humorous folk tunes and inventive orchestrations. Plus a chance to hear a rarely-heard and vibrant work by another 20th-century master, Strauss’s love Scene from his opera Feuersnot.

Beethoven's "Pastoral"

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Simon Rattle - Conductor

Barbara Hannigan - Soprano

program

Webern - Passacaglia

Berg - Three Fragments from Wozzeck

Ligeti - Mysteries of the Macabre

Beethoven - Symphony No. 6 ("Pastoral")

Featured in Disney’s Fantasia, the “Pastoral” Symphony paints vivid scenes of gathering thunderstorms, wandering brooks, and breezy countrysides. Both Webern’s Passacaglia and Berg’s Wozzeck received their U.S. premieres in Philadelphia as part of Stokowski’s vision for 20th-century music. Barbara Hannigan stuns audiences with her dramatic portrayal (and provocative costuming) in scenes from Ligeti’s thrilling opera, Le Grande Macabre.