The Philadelphia Orchestra Reunites with Audiences
Led by visionary, passionate music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the musicians of The Philadelphia Orchestra have shown courage and creativity in staying connected with audiences, continuing to perform when others could not. As we have reunited with audiences in person, we honor the losses of the past year with a renewed commitment to the music we make, to musical citizenry, and to the bright future of The Philadelphia Orchestra.
Forward: The 2021–22 Season of The Philadelphia Orchestra
Informed and transformed by the impact of the pandemic, the social justice movement in America, and the drive toward creative equity and inclusion in the world of orchestral music, the new season of The Philadelphia Orchestra reminds us of the power of music to help us better understand one another and our world.
Upcoming highlights in winter/spring 2022 include:
- Performances of Florence Price’s Symphony No. 1, led by Yannick
- World premiere concert version of Kevin Puts’s new opera The Hours, led by Yannick and featuring Renée Fleming and Kelli O’Hara
- Conductor Gustavo Dudamel’s highly anticipated Philadelphia Orchestra debut
- World premiere of Valerie Coleman’s new song cycle based on texts from Philadelphia-based writers and poets, featuring soprano Angel Blue
- One-night-only with John Williams conducting film favorites with violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter
- New semi-staged theatrical concert performance of Fiddler on the Roof, in partnership with Ann Arbor’s University Musical Society, featuring John Williams’s orchestrations, never before heard live in concert
- Missa solemnis 2.0: Media artist Refik Anadol transforms Verizon Hall into a virtual, non-denominational sanctuary using artificial intelligence and data visualization
- Ongoing Digital Stage concerts for a worldwide audience
Return to Touring
The Orchestra’s first international tour since fall 2019 will take place August 22–September 9, 2022, and will include visits to the UK and mainland Europe. We look forward to appearances at the Edinburgh International Festival and the BBC Proms. The Orchestra is grateful to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for its support towards this exciting international tour and looks forward to once again working with the PA Department of Community and Economic Development, TeamPA, and local and regional partners to promote international business development and tourism for Pennsylvania.
Creating a Vibrant Cultural Future for Philadelphia
On June 17, The Philadelphia Orchestra and the Kimmel Center announced a pathbreaking partnership to create a brighter, more inclusive, innovative cultural future for Philadelphia: The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Inc.
Led by President and CEO Matías Tarnopolsky, this new organization reimagines the power of the arts to bring joy, create community, and effect change—to uplift all Philadelphians.
On September 18, the Kimmel Center and the Orchestra collaborated on Arts Launch 2021, a day-long, free festival-style event celebrating the return of in-person arts with more than 50 arts organizations across the region. The event culminated with a free Philadelphia Orchestra concert led by Yannick.
Together, we look forward to bringing more great performances and impactful education and community programs, in person and digitally, to the diverse audiences of our city, and beyond.
