On August 11, the musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra created a blue sea of solidarity as they took the stage in royal blue union t-shirts, a remarkable show of strength and unity as contract negotiations between Local 77 of the American Federation of Musicians and Philadelphia Orchestra Kimmel Center, Inc (“POKC”) intensify. At the event every single Orchestra member wore {…}
The Philadelphia Orchestra and the Kimmel Center will present a special Great Stages Gala on May 16, 2023. The event, which kicks off at 8 p.m., will be led by conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin. He will be joined by soprano Renée Fleming and singer Angélique Kidjo. Former 6abc Action News anchor Jim Gardner is set to host the performance. There will {…}
The Philadelphia Orchestra has announced a conductor change for its upcoming concerts. The orchestra said that Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin is sick and will not lead the world-premiere performance of a John Luther Adams piece in Verizon Hall and Carnegie Hall. As a result, three conductors will split the podium. The Thursday premiere performance of Adams’ “Vespers of the Blessed Earth” {…}
The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center have been hit with a cyber-attack. The organization wrote on its website stating, “the Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Inc., has experienced a cyber incident that has temporarily impacted our network systems.” The company continued, “as we work to resolve this issue, we assure patrons that all performances on Campus will proceed as planned {…}
The Philadelphia Orchestra has extended Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin’s contract to 2030. In a statement, the organization said, “we are thrilled to share the news that Yannick Nézet-Séguin has extended his contract through 2030, with a newly expanded title of the music and artistic director. We look forward to the continuation of the extraordinary partnership between Yannick and The Philadelphia {…}
The Philadelphia Orchestra has announced its 2023-24 season. For the purposes of this article, we will focus on vocal performances. Nicholas McGegan conducts Händel’s “Messiah.” Performance Date: Dec. 21, 2023 Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Gil Shaham in the Bates Violin Concerto. The concert also includes Peña Laguna’s Oraison, for chorus and orchestra and Brahms’ A German Requiem. Performance Dates: Jan. 26-28, 2023 {…}
Back in 1983, Hao Jiang Tian arrived in New York from Beijing with $35 in his pocket and limited communication skills in English. One of his first stops from that trip was the Metropolitan Opera where he witnessed a performance of “Ernani” with Luciano Pavarotti. A decade later, Tian would take the stage with the famed Italian singer as part {…}
(Photo Courtesy of Metropolitan Opera) The Edinburgh International Festival has announced a program change. The company said, “Unfortunately, as The Philadelphia Orchestra’s COVID-19 protocols differ from current UK guidance, it has become necessary to change the program for the Thursday 25 August concert to accommodate the orchestra’s preferences.” As a result, the program will now feature Beethoven Symphony No 5 {…}
Puerto Rican soprano Larisa Martínez will perform with violinist Joshua Bell and the Philadelphia Orchestra in a program of duets. “Voice and Violin” is scheduled for July 29, 2022, at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center and will feature a broad range of music from Berlioz to Bernstein. Conductor Michael Stern will be on the podium. The complete program comprises the {…}
The Philadelphia Orchestra has announced its 2022-23 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances for the season. Nathalie Stutzmann conducts the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir in Purrington Words for Departure, Schoenberg’s Transfigured Night, and Mozart’s Requiem. Performance Dates: Oct. 20-23, 2022 Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Pretty Yende in Xi Ensō’s world premiere, Haydn Cello Concerto in D {…}
The Philadelphia Orchestra has announced the first part of its 2021-22 season featuring several vocal performances and marking the orchestra’s first live performances since the pandemic hit. Here are the vocal highlights for the fall 2021 season. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Laurin Talese and Aaron Diehl in a program of music by Johnson, Gershwin, Still, and Price. Performance Date: Oct. 7-9, {…}