2016 2017 Group Sales by The Philadelphia Orchestra

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Music Director 2016-17 Season

BOOK YOUR GROUP TICKETS TODAY! 215.875.7695 www.philorch.org/groupsales

Dear Group Leaders and Trip Planners, Experience the drama, joy, and passion of live music as Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Fabulous Philadelphians take you on an unforgettable journey. We hope you enjoy browsing through the pages ahead and exploring the great music and opportunities that await your group. Book as a group and take advantage of these great benefits. Group Benefits: • Incredible savings up to 30% off for most concerts • A low minimum of just 10 tickets to qualify as a group purchase • Personal attention, advice, and flexibility throughout the planning and ordering process • Ability to purchase tickets before the general public • No down payment required with seat reservation • Flexible payment policy • No per-ticket handling fee: With a group order there is only one low service charge per performance date Book your group TODAY! We continue to offer the most competitive values for these captivating musical experiences. As you explore our programs for the 2016-17 season, you will find group ticket prices listed in the last few pages of this brochure, including the “Premium” concerts. Please call 215.875.7695 or e-mail the Group Sales department at groupsales@philorch.org with any questions or ticket needs. I look forward to assisting you in planning your next group visit to The Philadelphia Orchestra!

Geoffrey Cohen Corporate and Group Sales Manager

www.philorch.org/groupsales

ENHANCE your concert experience* The Philadelphia Orchestra group sales team can turn a concert visit into an amazing experience with these enhancement options. Free Docent-Led Tour of the Kimmel Center At no additional cost, your group can receive a tour of the Kimmel Center, led by a volunteer docent. The tour takes roughly one hour and covers the building’s history, its significance to The Philadelphia Orchestra, and its great architectural marvels. Groups can schedule their tour based on their itinerary needs. Backstage Tours The group sales team can provide a short backstage tour of Verizon Hall. The tour will take roughly 15-25 minutes depending on the time it takes place and size of the group. It’s a great opportunity for groups to explore behind the scenes before the concert, and you never know who you might see. The tour is free, but subject to availability, and generally for groups of 60 people or less.

Turn your group visit into a SPECIAL EVENT Add a private reception or city dining experience to complete your group’s visit to The Philadelphia Orchestra. Pre- or Post-Concert Catered Reception A reception at the Kimmel Center with Garces Catering is the ultimate way to turn your concert visit into an affair to remember. With menus inspired by renowned Philadelphia chef and Iron Chef Winner Jose Garces, and multiple event space options, the Kimmel Center is one of the premier reception venues in the city. Cocktails at Bar Volvér From cocktails and a bite before a show at the Kimmel Center to an evening spent sharing champagne and snacks among friends post-concert, Bar Volvér is a gorgeous setting for their beverage team’s exciting, artful cocktails, wines, and beer, complemented by Chef Garces’s ambitious menu of globally influenced small plates. This is perfect for a group looking to make their concert experience into a complete evening, or as a networking event in conjunction with a concert. Let The Philadelphia Orchestra’s Group Sales team help to arrange an amazing night! Nearby Dining Options Take advantage of the many nearby dining options Center City has to offer. Not sure where to start? Ask our Group Sales Department for help in your planning.

Meet and Greet with Fabulous Philadelphians** Make your Philadelphia Orchestra visit more personal with a chance to meet the Orchestra musicians, the Fabulous Philadelphians! Whether you’d like to learn more about the Orchestra, take a picture, or have a program autographed, we can request this at no additional charge. Please note that a room fee may apply depending on the size of the group, and all requests for a meet-and-greet are subject to musician and space availability. School Educational Opportunities*** For performance groups looking to add an educational experience in conjunction with a concert visit beyond the above options, please contact the Group Sales department so we can learn more about your group and the educational aspect desired during your visit. Contact The Philadelphia Orchestra’s Group Sales department to plan your special event or concert enhancements.

groupsales@philorch.org 215.875.7695 www.philorch.org/groupsales *All concert enhancement and event opportunities with the purchase of group tickets are subject to availability. **Kimmel Center room fees may apply. ***School Educational Opportunities are subject to fees, as determined by The Philadelphia Orchestra’s Collaborative Learning Department.

2016-17 Season Highlights

Midori

Simon Rattle Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Itzhak Perlman Daniil Trifonov

Yuja Wang Michael Tilson Thomas

Leonidas Kavakos Stéphane Denève

Yannick and Yuja Open the Season

Brahms: Symphony No. 2

September 22-24

November 3-5

Carmina burana

The Paris Festival

December 8-10

January 12-14 January 19-21 January 26 & 27

Incredible savings up to 30% off for most concerts.

Yannick and Rachmaninoff Trifonov Reunited! Festival April 6-9

April 27-29

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September/October 2016 Yannick and Yuja Open the Season

Berlioz’s Fantastic Obsession

PREMIUM Thursday, September 22 8 PM Friday, September 23 2 PM Saturday, September 24 8 PM

Friday, October 7 8 PM Saturday, October 8 8 PM

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor Yuja Wang Piano

Berlioz Le Corsaire Overture Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No. 1 Berlioz Symphonie fantastique

Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 Berlioz Symphonie fantastique

Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Yannick launches his fifth season with high-powered passion, joined by Philadelphia favorite Yuja Wang. “I need to perform to feel alive,” says the Curtistrained pianist, who performs Chopin’s gorgeous Piano Concerto No. 2. Yannick also leads Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, a work that most likely drove the composer to opium and madness—but the electrifying result showcases the musicians of The Philadelphia Orchestra in spectacular fashion. These concerts are LiveNote™ enabled.

Mozart’s Great Mass Thursday, September 29 8 PM Saturday, October 1 8 PM Sunday, October 2 2 PM Yuja Wang

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor Lucy Crowe Soprano Kate Lindsey Mezzo-soprano Nicholas Phan Tenor Philippe Sly Bass-baritone Westminster Symphonic Choir Joe Miller Director Theofanidis Rainbow Body Schubert Symphony in B minor (“Unfinished”) Mozart Mass in C minor Yannick continues his exploration of the great choral works with Mozart’s C-minor Mass, bringing to glorious life what Yannick calls “some of his most profound music.” We open with American composer Christopher Theofanidis’s mystical Rainbow Body and Schubert’s famous “Unfinished” Symphony.

Westminster Symphonic Choir

October 2016

Secure your tickets before the general public!

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor Stéphane Tétreault Cello

Hector Berlioz takes infatuation to a whole new level in his revolutionary—and semiautobiographical—Symphonie fantastique, a musical tale of love, lust, ecstasy, despair, and murder. Yannick opens the program with an exhilarating rush of strings and woodwinds— conjuring the swagger of pirates on the high seas—in Berlioz’s swashbuckling Le Corsaire Overture. The dynamic Stéphane Tétreault makes his Philadelphia Orchestra debut with SaintSaëns’s First Cello Concerto.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin

These concerts are LiveNote™ enabled.

Russian Favorites Thursday, October 20 8 PM Friday, October 21 2 PM Saturday, October 22 8 PM Stéphane Denève Conductor Denis Kozhukhin Piano Tchaikovsky/arr. Stokowski Andante cantabile, from String Quartet No. 1 (“Accordion”) Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 Musorgsky/arr. & orch. Stokowski Boris Godunov: A Symphonic Synthesis Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture

Stéphane Tétreault

Principal Guest Conductor Stéphane Denève leads this program of iconic Russian music, including works by Tchaikovsky and Musorgsky arranged by our legendary former Music Director Leopold Stokowski. The great young Russian pianist Denis Kozhukhin makes his subscription debut with Tchaikovsky’s beloved First Piano Concerto. And we conclude with the 1812 Overture, the most vivid depiction of a battle you’ll ever hear in a concert hall!

Stéphane Denève

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October/November 2016

November 2016

Brahms: Symphony No. 1

Daphnis and Chloé

Thursday, October 27 8 PM Friday, October 28 2 PM Saturday, October 29 8 PM

Thursday, November 10 8 PM Friday, November 11 2 PM Saturday, November 12 8 PM

Alain Altinoglu Conductor Veronika Eberle Violin

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor Benjamin Beilman Violin Westminster Symphonic Choir Joe Miller Director

Dutilleux Métaboles Mendelssohn Violin Concerto Brahms Symphony No. 1

Ravel Le Tombeau de Couperin Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 1 Ravel Daphnis and Chloé (complete ballet)

This season offers an exceptional opportunity to hear all four of Brahms’s great symphonies, led by four different conductors. We begin with the powerful Symphony No. 1, conducted by Alain Altinoglu, who earned raves at his 2014 debut. Veronika Eberle is our astounding soloist in Mendelssohn’s luminous Violin Concerto. Métaboles is a prime example of the artistry of Henri Dutilleux, who Yannick calls “one of the finest French composers of the 20th century.”

Alain Altinoglu

Brahms: Symphony No. 2

Yannick conducts two masterworks by Ravel: the intimate Le Tombeau de Couperin and the ballet Daphnis and Chloé, a work Yannick calls “very dear to my heart.” He leads the complete version of this sparkling and sensual orchestral showpiece, bringing the mythological story to vivid life. Rising star violinist Benjamin Beilman made his Philadelphia Orchestra debut in 2015, performing with “polish and power” (The Philadelphia Inquirer). He returns with Prokofiev’s ethereal Violin Concerto No. 1.

Benjamin Beilman

These concerts are LiveNote™ enabled.

PREMIUM Thursday, November 3 8 PM Friday, November 4 2 PM Saturday, November 5 8 PM Louis Langrée Conductor Midori Violin Schnittke Moz-Art à la Haydn Beethoven Violin Concerto Brahms Symphony No. 2

Veronika Eberle

The highly sought-after Louis Langrée, music director of Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival, makes his Philadelphia Orchestra debut with these performances, bringing his “classy artistry” (The New York Times) to Brahms’s Second Symphony. Audience favorite Midori returns with Beethoven’s mighty Violin Concerto. We open with Alfred Schnittke’s witty and theatrical mash-up; it’s a little Mozart, a little Haydn, and thoroughly modern music-making including untraditional staging and lighting.

Tenth Anniversary Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ Celebration Thursday, November 17 8 PM Friday, November 18 2 PM Saturday, November 19 8 PM Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor Paul Jacobs Organ

Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Respighi The Fountains of Rome Rouse Organ Concerto (Philadelphia Orchestra co-commission —world premiere) Saint-Saëns Symphony No. 3 (“Organ”) Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Christopher Rouse summons breathtaking texture, color, and volume— much like Verizon Hall’s 7,000-pipe Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ. In celebration of the magnificent instrument’s 10th anniversary, Rouse has been commissioned to write a new concerto for the King of Instruments. Grammy Award-winning organist Paul Jacobs returns as Yannick leads the Philadelphians in this world premiere. Respighi’s tribute to Rome opens these concerts with gusto.

Midori

Make it at an event with a pre- or post-concert activity.

Paul Jacobs

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November/December 2016

December 2016/January 2017

Noseda Returns for Thanksgiving

O Fortuna!— Carmina burana

Friday, November 25 8 PM Saturday, November 26 8 PM Sunday, November 27 2 PM

PREMIUM Thursday, December 8 8 PM Friday, December 9 8 PM Saturday, December 10 8 PM

Gianandrea Noseda Conductor Alexander Toradze Piano

Cristian Măcelaru Conductor Olga Pudova Soprano Nicholas Phan Tenor Stephen Powell Baritone Philadelphia Symphonic Choir Joe Miller Director The American Boychoir Fernando Malvar-Ruiz Music Director

Petrassi Partita Ravel Piano Concerto in G major Beethoven Symphony No. 6 (“Pastoral”) Gianandrea Noseda returns to lead a program that whirls from dance to jazz to Beethoven. The Milanese maestro has been sharing his love of underappreciated Italian repertoire for the past two seasons. This season he enchants us with Goffredo Petrassi and traditional Italian dance forms. Alexander Toradze impresses with Ravel’s jazz-influenced Piano Concerto in G major. And while Beethoven’s “Pastoral” is a mainstay of the repertoire, Noseda says every time he conducts it, the work “opens new windows on the idea of the symphony.”

Beethoven Symphony No. 2 Orff Carmina burana Gianandrea Noseda

Yannick and Bronfman PREMIUM Thursday, December 1 8 PM Friday, December 2 2 PM Saturday, December 3 8 PM

Yannick conducts an athletic and thrilling program of great Russian repertoire. In Prokofiev’s “knockout” Piano Concerto No. 2, Yefim Bronfman earns raves for his “eerily relaxed mastery of every pianistic challenge: the crazed first-movement cadenza; the whirlwind Scherzo with its nonstop rippling runs; the spiky, hard-driven finale, with its keyboard-spanning leaps.” (The New York Times) The Philadelphians and Eugene Ormandy gave the American premiere of Shostakovich’s Fourth Symphony. It’s a tour de force!

All Mozart Thursday, January 5 8 PM Friday, January 6 2 PM Saturday, January 7 8 PM Alexander Toradze

Jane Glover Conductor Daniel Matsukawa Bassoon

Daniel Matsukawa

Mozart Symphony No. 1 Mozart Bassoon Concerto Mozart Symphony No. 41 (“Jupiter”) Experience the full sweep of Mozart’s genius, from his first symphony, composed when he was just eight years old, to his last, the complex and majestic “Jupiter.” The staggering body of work in between includes his first woodwind concerto. Principal Bassoon Daniel Matsukawa “gets to sing the arias” in the midst of two great symphonic works. The esteemed British conductor and Mozart specialist Jane Glover makes her subscription debut in this effervescent program.

These concerts are LiveNote™ enabled.

Yefim Bronfman

Cristian Măcelaru

These concerts are LiveNote™ enabled.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor Yefim Bronfman Piano Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2 Shostakovich Symphony No. 4

“O Fortune! Like the moon ever-changing,” the massive choir bellows amidst the opening clash of cymbals and banging of drums, but ever-constant is the enduring popularity of Carmina burana, Orff’s heart-pounding and tantalizing tale of drinking and debauchery. Whether you know it from the movies or Philadelphia’s Mummers, nothing can quite prepare you for The Philadelphia Orchestra’s live and lusty delivery, vigorously led in these performances by our own Cristian Măcelaru, along with Beethoven’s ebullient and life-affirming Second Symphony.

Personal attention, advice, and flexibility through the ordering process.

Jane Glover

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January 2017

City of Light and Music:

The Paris Festival

“When it’s January, and it’s after the holidays, and it’s winter here, sometimes our minds and our bodies would like to explore the rest of the world. ... Join us on a musical journey abroad—to Paris! The City of Light is full of poetry, and imagery and, of course, great music.” —Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Susan Graham

The Paris Festival: Week One

The Paris Festival: Week Two

The Paris Festival: Week Three

Thursday, January 12 8 PM Friday, January 13 8 PM Saturday, January 14 8 PM

Thursday, January 19 8 PM Friday, January 20 2 PM Saturday, January 21 8 PM

Thursday, January 26 8 PM Friday, January 27 2 PM

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor Susan Graham Mezzo-soprano

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor Louis Lortie Piano

Chabrier Joyeuse Marche Fauré Pavane Saint-Saëns “Bacchanale,” from Samson and Delilah Canteloube Selections from Songs of the Auvergne Ravel Menuet antique Schmitt Suite from La Tragédie de Salomé

Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 Stravinsky Petrushka

Yannick begins a three-week celebration of the music of Paris. At the heart of these first concerts are the gorgeous selections from Joseph Canteloube’s Songs of the Auvergne. Mezzo-soprano Susan Graham will float the exquisite melodies straight into your heart while showcasing the extraordinary chemistry she enjoys with Yannick, who also leads works by Chabrier, Fauré, Schmitt, Saint-Saëns, and Ravel. Join us for this remarkable journey to the City of Light!

On our second visit to Paris, Yannick and the Orchestra feature two brilliant musical expats who made the French capital their home, while never forgetting their native land. Stravinsky’s music for the ballet Petrushka, based on Russia’s version of Punch and Judy, premiered in Paris in 1911, with the immortal Nijinsky in the title role. Our soloist, Chopin-specialist Louis Lortie, brings out all the riches of the Polish-born composer’s dazzling Piano Concerto No. 1.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor Choong-Jin Chang Viola

Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Berlioz Harold in Italy Ravel Alborada del gracioso Ravel Rapsodie espagnole Ravel Bolero Our final visit to Paris celebrates two composers who reached outside their rich musical milieu to find inspiration around the Mediterranean. Principal Viola Choong-Jin Chang shines in Berlioz’s wonderful Harold in Italy. And Yannick leads three Spanish-influenced works by Ravel: Alborada del gracioso, Rapsodie espagnole, and the stunning Bolero. Deceptively simple, yet utterly compelling, it was a sensational success at its Paris Opera premiere in 1928 and brings our Paris sojourn to an ecstatic finale.

Louis Lortie

These concerts are LiveNote™ enabled.

Choong-Jin Chang

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February/March 2017

February 2017 André Watts’s 60-Year Legacy

Brahms: Symphony No. 4 Thursday, February 23 8 PM Friday, February 24 2 PM Saturday, February 25 8 PM

PREMIUM Thursday, February 2 8 PM Friday, February 3 2 PM Saturday, February 4 8 PM

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor Vocal soloists to be announced Brahms Selections from Eleven Choral Preludes (orchestral transcriptions by Detlev Glanert) Bach Cantata No. 150, “Nach Dir, Herr, verlanget mich” Brahms Symphony No. 4

Fabio Luisi Conductor André Watts Piano Weber Overture to Oberon Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4 Franck Symphony in D minor The revered André Watts made his debut with the Philadelphians in 1957 as a 10-year-old winner of the Orchestra’s Children’s Student Competition. He has since appeared with the Orchestra over 100 times! This season we celebrate the 60th anniversary of that debut, with Watts performing Beethoven’s profound Piano Concerto No 4. We also welcome back guest conductor Fabio Luisi, who brings his impeccable touch to the Overture from Weber’s Oberon and Franck’s “moody, impetuous and keenly dramatic” (The New York Times) Symphony in D minor.

André Watts Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Bluebeard’s Castle— Yannick and Opera

Brahms: Symphony No. 3

Thursday, March 2 8 PM Friday, March 3 8 PM Saturday, March 4 8 PM

Friday, February 17 2 PM Saturday, February 18 8 PM Sunday, February 19 2 PM

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor Michelle DeYoung Mezzo-soprano John Relyea Bass

Herbert Blomstedt Conductor Garrick Ohlsson Piano Mozart Piano Concerto No. 25, K. 503 Brahms Symphony No. 3

Yannick has spoken often of his great passion for Brahms, possibly his favorite composer. The culmination of this season’s symphonic cycle features selections from his final musical work, the Eleven Choral Preludes, as well as his majestic Fourth Symphony and the Bach cantata that inspired it. Hear the Choral Preludes in beautiful new transcriptions alongside the original organ works featuring the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ. Marvelous works on their own; even better in context with each other; sublime with Yannick and the Philadelphians!

Garrick Ohlsson

The legendary Herbert Blomstedt turns 90 this season, returning to our podium to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his Philadelphia Orchestra debut. Continuing this season’s cycle of Brahms symphonies, he leads the lush Third Symphony, hailed by a critic of the composer’s time as “a feast for the music lover and musician … artistically the most perfect.” Blomstedt is joined by another great friend of the Orchestra: The brilliant pianist Garrick Ohlsson performs Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 25, among the Austrian master’s finest creations.

Michelle DeYoung

Tchaikovsky Selections from Swan Lake Bartók Bluebeard’s Castle Indulge in Yannick’s passion for opera! It’s pure spine-tingling drama in this pairing of selections from Tchaikovsky’s dark and gorgeous ballet score with Bartók’s sinister one-act opera. If you think the Black Swan is harrowing, wait until you see what happens when Bluebeard’s suspicious bride insists on seeing what’s behind seven locked doors in her new husband’s castle. The electrifying mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung is the newlywed Judith; Metropolitan Opera regular John Relyea sings the brooding Duke Bluebeard. Spoiler alert: Judith might not want to open that last door. These concerts are LiveNote™ enabled.

Herbert Blomstedt

Lock in your group ticket rates today!

John Relyea

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March 2017

March/April 2017 Michael Tilson Thomas Returns

Pat Metheny and the American Beat

PREMIUM Friday, March 10 8 PM Saturday, March 11 8 PM Sunday, March 12 2 PM

Thursday, March 30 8 PM Friday, March 31 2 PM Saturday, April 1 8 PM

Michael Tilson Thomas Conductor Leonidas Kavakos Violin Seeger Andante for Strings Berg Violin Concerto Beethoven Symphony No. 3 (“Eroica”)

Michael Tilson Thomas

The charismatic Michael Tilson Thomas returns to lead Beethoven’s landmark—and truly heroic— Symphony No. 3, plus American Ruth Crawford Seeger’s concise and experimental Andante for Strings. Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos, who left Verizon Hall audiences rapturous after his 2015 performance of the Sibelius Concerto, also returns, applying his “off the charts” technique (The Philadelphia Inquirer) to another early-20thcentury masterpiece, Berg’s Violin Concerto.

Britten’s War Requiem with Dutoit Thursday, March 23 8 PM Friday, March 24 2 PM Saturday, March 25 8 PM

Charles Dutoit

Charles Dutoit Conductor Tatiana Monogarova Soprano John Mark Ainsley Tenor Matthias Goerne Baritone Westminster Symphonic Choir Joe Miller Director The American Boychoir Fernando Malvar-Ruiz Music Director Britten War Requiem Charles Dutoit returns to lead a massive ensemble in one of the greatest masterpieces in the history of music: Britten’s War Requiem. Our conductor laureate says he was overwhelmed when he first heard the work, as a student in Switzerland shortly after its premiere. He has since performed it all over the world. Tradition dictates that the soprano be Russian, the tenor English, and the baritone German, representing the combatants in World War II. We honor that tradition with singers Tatiana Monogarova, John Mark Ainsley, and Matthias Goerne These performances are made possible in part by the generous support of the Presser Foundation.

Just 10 tickets to qualify as a group purchase.

Bramwell Tovey Conductor Christopher Deviney Vibraphone She-e Wu Marimba Bernstein Prelude, Fugue, and Riffs Metheny/arr. & orch. Deviney Duo Concerto for Vibraphone and Marimba (world premiere) Dvořák Symphony No. 9 (“From the New World”)

Bramwell Tovey

Principal Percussion Christopher Deviney calls 20-time Grammy winner Pat Metheny and his composing partner Lyle Mays the “most important duo to come along since George and Ira Gershwin.” Deviney has orchestrated three Metheny jazz tunes into an all-new percussion concerto starring She-e Wu on marimba and himself on vibraphone. Bramwell Tovey brings his impresario’s touch to a clever program that combines the world premiere with Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony and Bernstein’s Prelude, Fugue, and Riffs, a jazz-hall style work for clarinet and orchestra premiered by Benny Goodman.

Yannick and Trifonov Reunited! Thursday, April 6 8 PM Friday, April 7 2 PM Saturday, April 8 8 PM Sunday, April 9 2 PM Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor Mason Bates Electronica Daniil Trifonov Piano

Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Beethoven Selections from The Creatures of Prometheus Bates Alternative Energy Mozart Piano Concerto No. 9, K. 271 (“Jenamy”) Liszt Prometheus Yannick welcomes back the prodigious pianist Daniil Trifonov—who recorded the Grammynominated Rachmaninoff Variations with the Philadelphians—for Mozart’s joyous and demanding “Jenamy” Concerto. And American composer Mason Bates electrifies the audience with his fascinating and futuristic Alternative Energy. These concerts are LiveNote™ enabled.

Daniil Trifonov

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April 2017

Stéphane Denève

Northern Lights with Stéphane Denève Thursday, April 20 8 PM Friday, April 21 2 PM Saturday, April 22 8 PM Stéphane Denève Conductor Lars Vogt Piano Salonen Nyx Grieg Piano Concerto Sibelius Symphony No. 2

Lars Vogt

Principal Guest Conductor Stéphane Denève brings his considerable flair to this musical buffet. We begin with Finnish composer Esa-Pekka Salonen’s symphonic poem Nyx (she’s the Greek personification of the night). Salonen says he aspired to convey Nyx’s elusive character; if you see shadows flickering around Verizon Hall, well, don’t say we didn’t warn you. To Norway and Edvard Grieg, whose Piano Concerto is one of the most popular works in the keyboard canon. Soloist Lars Vogt will scale its soul-stirring heights. We return to Finland for our finale from Jean Sibelius. Coming at a time of Russian oppression, his Second Symphony boosted his patriotic credentials. Today we can appreciate this wonderful work on its own terms, as simply great music.

No down payment required with seat reservations.

The Rachmaninoff Festival Four Concertos over Three Programs PREMIUM Thursday, April 27 8 PM Stéphane Denève Conductor Haochen Zhang Piano Nikolai Lugansky Piano Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 4 Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 PREMIUM Friday, April 28 8 PM Stéphane Denève Conductor Nikolai Lugansky Piano Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, for piano and orchestra Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 PREMIUM Saturday, April 29 8 PM Stéphane Denève Conductor Haochen Zhang Piano Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 1 Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances

We honor the composer with perhaps the closest ties to The Philadelphia Orchestra, presenting all four of Rachmaninoff’s piano concertos, with two dynamic and contrasting soloists: the renowned Russian Nikolai Lugansky (Concertos 2 and 3) and the Chinese phenom and Curtis-trained Haochen Zhang (Concertos 1 and 4). For good measure, Lugansky will also solo in the gorgeous Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Principal Guest Conductor Stéphane Denève also leads the Orchestra in the Symphonic Dances. In a perfect world you’ll hear all three concerts and all four concertos. Additional Rachmaninoff Festival events surrounding the concerts will be unveiled in 2017. Join us for these unforgettable nights and revel in the heavenly Philadelphia Sound!

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May 2017 A Journey of the Soul Wednesday, May 3 8 PM Friday, May 5 2 PM Saturday, May 6 8 PM Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor Sasha Cooke Mezzo-soprano Radu Lupu Piano Bernstein Symphony No. 1 (“Jeremiah”) Mozart Piano Concerto No. 24, K. 491 Schumann Symphony No. 2

Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Looking ahead to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Leonard Bernstein in 2018, Yannick conducts the great American composer’s first symphony, “Jeremiah,” based on the prophet’s lamentations “as he mourns his beloved Jerusalem, ruined, pillaged, and dishonored after his desperate efforts to save it” (Leonard Bernstein), and the young composer’s own struggles with faith. Critics extol Radu Lupu, the “enigmatic and almost willfully individualistic pianist” (The New York Times), as an artist who simply must be heard live. A leading interpreter of Mozart’s music, he performs the mesmerizing Piano Concerto No. 24, in which the composer makes full use of the orchestra. We conclude with Schumann’s Symphony No. 2, which includes “probably the most profound music Schumann ever wrote for orchestra,” says Yannick, “on the one hand very simple, but also heartbreaking in its depth and richness of harmonies.”

Mahler’s Third Symphony

Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony

PREMIUM Thursday, May 18 8 PM Friday, May 19 8 PM Saturday, May 20 8 PM Sunday, May 21 2 PM

Thursday, May 11 8 PM Friday, May 12 8 PM Saturday, May 13 8 PM

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor Karen Cargill Mezzo-soprano Women of the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir Joe Miller Director The American Boychoir Fernando Malvar-Ruiz Music Director

Tugan Sokhiev Conductor Renaud Capuçon Violin Liadov Kikimora Korngold Violin Concerto Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 After making a terrific impression in his debut with the Orchestra in 2014, Bolshoi Music Director Tugan Sokhiev returns for this stirring program drawn in part from strong Russian influences. Famous for its ingenious use of a “fate” theme, Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony progresses from a somber beginning to an uplifting, triumphant march in the final movement. It’s Tchaikovsky at his soulful best! winning Viennese composer Erich Korngold infuses his Violin Concerto with Hollywood flair; Frenchman swashbuckling Errol Flynn.” (Los Angeles Times)

Mahler Symphony No. 3 We end the season with Mahler’s colossal Third Symphony, among the grandest works of all. The Symphony is massive—calling for mezzo-soprano, women’s choir, and children’s chorus—and with six movements, is the longest piece in the standard repertoire. “It’s a work that, even more than any other Mahler symphony, contains—as Mahler said—the whole world,” says Yannick. “It has the mineral life, the vegetation life, the animal one, the human one—and the afterlife as well. … It’s a fascinating work of art.” This is a rare chance to hear this commanding music in the inimitable hands of Yannick and The Philadelphia Orchestra. A monumental end to our season that you won’t want to miss!

Tugan Sokhiev

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F A M I L Y Concert Series A lifelong love of music starts here! Join The Philadelphia Orchestra for these hour-long, interactive, theatrical concerts designed for children ages 6-12. Pre-Concert Adventures, free for all ticket holders, begin at 10 AM and introduce kids (and grownups!) to the instruments of the orchestra, the program, and more. Family Series 3-Concert subscriptions start as low as $30.

Halloween Treats Saturday, October 29 11:30 AM Put on your Halloween costume and forget the tricks! We’ve got plenty of treats to fill your musical goodie bag. The Philadelphia Orchestra explores the spooky and the silly in this orchestral adventure, an annual audience favorite. SPECIAL ADD-ON

Christmas Kids’ Spectacular Saturday, December 10 11:30 AM What musical gifts does Santa have in store for you? Get in the Christmas spirit with our annual Christmas Kids’ Spectacular! You’ll hear your favorite jingles and carols like Sleigh Ride, “Joy to the World,” and “Deck the Halls,” and have a chance to sing along with The Philadelphia Orchestra. Plus we’ll have a few surprises along the way. Get your tickets early for this must-see family event of the holiday season!

Who Stole the Mona Lisa? Saturday, February 4 11:30 AM In 1911 the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre in Paris and the painter Picasso was accused of the crime. With Stravinsky’s magical Suite from The Firebird as the soundtrack, this mystery comes to life through a cast of zany characters in Micah Chambers-Goldberg’s 20-minute animated film, commissioned by Astral Artists in 2011. Weber’s fairy-inspired Overture to Oberon opens the program.

Carnival of the Animals Saturday, April 22 11:30 AM How many animals can the instruments of an orchestra conjure? The answer is: at least 14! Lions and kangaroos, elephants and swans—young listeners will hear them all as the majestic Philadelphia Orchestra turns Verizon Hall into a sumptuous zoo for this detailed tour of Saint-Saëns’s Carnival of the Animals.

Amazing group ticket savings on the Family Concerts!

E.T.: the Extra-Terrestrial with The Philadelphia Orchestra Friday, October 14 7 PM Saturday, October 15 7 PM Sunday, October 16 2 PM Stéphane Denève Conductor John Williams is E.T.,” Steven Spielberg is quoted as saying. In their decades-long collaboration, Williams has composed the music for almost every one of Spielberg’s movies, but his Oscar®and Grammy-winning score for the beloved E.T.: the Extra-Terrestrial was so exceptional, the famous director actually cut the final sequence to match the music, instead of the other way around. Join The Philadelphia Orchestra for an unforgettable performance of this magical score live to picture, as the entire film is projected in HD. Principal Guest Conductor Stéphane Denève, a Williams aficionado who remembers E.T. as the first time he cried at the movies, conducts. Just try to avoid chills—or tears—when that bicycle pedals off the mountain and flies past the moon, lifted by Williams’s tender and soaring melodies.

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Simon Rattle Returns Thursday, October 6 8 PM Simon Rattle Conductor Mahler Symphony No. 6 In his only U.S. orchestra guest conducting appearance of the season, Simon Rattle, fiery leader of the esteemed Berlin Philharmonic and regular Philadelphia Orchestra collaborator, returns to Verizon Hall for one night only, bringing “his characteristic combination of strategy, intellectualism, and heat.” (The Philadelphia Inquirer) He leads Mahler’s fateful Symphony No. 6—a work so overflowing with emotion and consequence, it literally calls for hammer blows to express its depths. The work’s nickname—“Tragic”—is a bit of mystery; it was written during a relatively carefree period in Mahler’s life. Perhaps the composer had premonitions of the unhappy fate that awaited him. For our audiences, though, there’s nothing in store but amazement.

Special Holiday Events From the powerful blasts of the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ on Halloween to those famous lush strings on full display in the romantic repertoire of Valentine’s Day, The Philadelphia Orchestra infuses the holidays with music and joy. Celebrate Christmas or ring in the New Year and create new family traditions. But remember that tickets sell quickly. Add these on to your subscription early for the best seats in the house!

Halloween Organ Extravaganza Friday, October 28 9:30 PM

Valentine’s Day Concert Tuesday, February 14 8:30 PM Cristian Măcelaru Conductor

The Glorious Sound of Christmas Thursday, December 15 7 PM Friday, December 16 7 PM Saturday, December 17 7 PM Thomas Wilkins Conductor

The Iconic Itzhak Perlman

It’s the Glorious Sound of Christmas! The irresistible Thomas Wilkins, principal conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, leads the full Orchestra, choir, and special guests in this annual tradition. ’Tis the season!

Messiah Sunday, December 18 2 PM Nathalie Stutzmann Conductor

Wednesday, March 15 8 PM Thursday, March 16 8 PM Itzhak Perlman Conductor and Violin Bach Violin Concerto No. 1 Mozart Symphony No. 35 (“Haffner”) Dvořák Symphony No. 8 President Obama called him “the most beloved violinist of our time” in awarding him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. A cultural icon, the irrepressible Itzhak Perlman returns to Verizon Hall to conduct and solo with The Philadelphia Orchestra. He brings his “brilliant technique and juicy sound” (The New York Times) to Bach’s exquisite First Violin Concerto before leading the ensemble in two symphonic masterpieces: Dvořák’s bucolic Eighth Symphony and Mozart’s intoxicating “Haffner” Symphony, composed amidst a furious frenzy of activity and calling for a finale played “as fast as possible”!

Save on ticket fees to both of these special events!

Handel Messiah With one performance only this season, Handel’s divine Messiah is guaranteed to sell out. Nathalie Stutzmann makes her Philadelphia Orchestra conducting debut leading this most famous of oratorios. Don’t miss your chance to be in the hall when the audience stands for the “Hallelujah” Chorus. Wonderful!

New Year’s Eve Saturday, December 31 7:30 PM Bramwell Tovey Conductor Celebrate the arrival of 2017 with the Fabulous Philadelphians! The Grammywinning and perennially popular Bramwell Tovey leads the festivities, promising an evening of delicious music—spiced with a dash of irreverence. Ring in the New Year in style.

www.philorch.org/group-benefits / 215.875.7695

We are excited to invite you to join us as we feature LiveNote during the 2016-17 season, as we continue to engage concertgoers and expand our use of technology into the concert hall. The LiveNote app features real-time program notes you can read on your smart phone during the concert and will be available only on certain pieces on select weekends. Look for the LiveNote icon to see which performances offer this high-tech option. LiveNote has been developed over many years, tested with audience feedback and designed for minimal impact on the live experience.

The Philadelphia Orchestra is grateful to the many corporations,

Opening Night

foundations, and government agencies that provide generous support each year. These wonderful partners support our performances, educational and outreach programs, and other innovative projects.

Friday, September 30 7 PM Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor Another extraordinary season of music-making, led by our remarkable music director, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and featuring an incredible roster of special guest artists, internationally renowned conductors, and our own Fabulous Philadelphians, is about to begin. Join us as we kick off the new cultural year at the 2016 Opening Night Concert and Gala, launching our 117th season in grand style! Experience the legendary Philadelphia Sound as friends, musicians, and leaders from throughout Philadelphia’s cultural community gather to celebrate the beginning of another marvelous year of performances. An unforgettable evening of great music, glamour, black tie, high couture, delicious food, and champagne awaits. Opening Night Co-Chair Dianne Rotwitt, Chairman of the Board Richard B. Worley, and Volunteer Association President Lisa Yakulis look forward to welcoming you to this special evening. Call the Group Sales department at 215.875.7695 or e-mail groupsales@philorch.org to get your concert-only group tickets today.

We would also like to give special thanks to the Paul M. Angell Foundation, Annenberg Foundation, Jessie Ball duPont Fund, Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, Gray Charitable Trust, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, MKM Foundation, Neubauer Family Foundation, William Penn Foundation, Presser Foundation, Raynier Institute and Foundation, and the Wyncote Foundation for their unwavering support.

LiveNote is funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information about institutional support, please call 215.893.1984.

www.philorch.org/groupsales / 215.875.7695

Order your group tickets TODAY!

Tier 1

Tier 2

Tier 3

Conductor’s Circle

$52

$31

$50

Thursday PREMIUM

$103

$76

$60

$52

$40

$60

$103

$60

$37

$58

Friday

$98

$67

$62

$52

$47

$33

$52

$83

$52

$31

$50

$57

$36

$55

$57

$52

$38

$57

Saturday

$103

$72

$67

$57

$52

$38

$57

$88

$57

$36

$55

Saturday PREMIUM

$104

$77

$61

$53

$41

$61

$104

$61

$38

$59

Sunday

$103

$72

$67

$57

$52

$38

$57

$88

$57

$36

$55

Sunday PREMIUM

$104

$77

$61

$53

$41

$61

$104

$61

$38

$59

Halloween Treats

$29

$25

$16

$25

$29

$17

$11

$16

Halloween Organ Extravaganza

$45

Christmas Kids' Spectacular

$30

$26

$17

$26

$30

$18

$12

$17

Family Concerts

$28

$24

$15

$24

$28

$16

$10

$15

Opening Night

n/a

$85

n/a

$85

$65

$40

n/a

Simon Rattle Returns

$108

$93

$88

$73

$75

$61

$45

$75

$108

$75

$45

$66

E.T.: the Extra-Terrestrial

$69

$54

$39

$69

$89

$69

$54

n/a

The Iconic Itzhak Perlman

$175

$150

$175

$150

$175

$125

$95

$150

The Glorious Sound of Christmas

$65

$50

$40

$16

$45

$60

$50

$29

n/a

Messiah

$80

$65

$45

$35

$49

$80

$49

$32

n/a

$40

$46

n/a

$73

$30

$60

Special Events

Front O estra rch

Orch. 1

Orch. 2

Orch. 3

Orch. 4

Orc hestra Tier

Tier 1 Boxes

Tier 3 Boxes

$67

Tier 2 Boxes

$72

Orch. 6

$103

s Orchestra Boxe

Friday PREMIUM

$88

or nduct ’s Circle Co

Orche stra Boxes

Orchestra Tier

$79

Orch. 5

Front Orchestra

$52

Tier 2 Box es

Orchestra 6

$33

oxe s

Orchestra 5

$47

Tier 2 Boxes

Orchestra 4

$52

Tier 3 B

Orchestra 3

$52

Tier 3 Boxes

Orchestra 2

$62

oxes

$67

3B Tier

$97

VERIZON HALL

es Box

Thursday

2016-17 GROUP TICKET PRICING* Price per Concert

r2 Tie

Orchestra 1

Groups save at The Philadelphia Orchestra!

Tier 1 Center

Tier 2 Center

Tier 3 Center

New Year's Eve

$95

$80

$60

$35

$60

$95

Valentine's Day Concert

$73

$30

$73

$89

Premium Concerts: Concerts designated as Premium have slightly higher prices. These are concerts not to be missed and highlight the value of the programming. The additional cost brings you performances with larger orchestration, more involved production, world premieres, and exclusive relationships with renowned artists.

Fax or mail orders should include a written request with performance date(s), seating location, number of tickets, credit card information, mailing address, and a daytime phone number. A $4.00 Kimmel Center Inc. Building and Renovation fee has been added to all ticket prices. A $6.50 per-ticket fee will be applied to all single tickets ordered by phone or on the web. Additional single tickets purchased at the Kimmel Center Box Office are subject to a $2.00 processing fee. Please note: All artists, dates, prices, discounts, and programs are subject to change. Prices vary by concert as does subscriber savings and all seating requests are subject to availability. For select concerts Conductor Circle, Front Orchestra, Tier 2, and Tier 3 boxes may not be available. Seating locations will be assigned in a comparable location at no additional charge.

Prices are valid until July 1, 2016, and are subject to change after that date.

Photos: Jessica Griffin, Chris Lee, Pete Checchia, Ryan Donnell, Jan Regan, Will Figg, Sean J. Kennedy, Giovanni Caccamo, Luke Ratray, Simon Pauly, Adriane White, Tara McMullen, Benjamin Ealovega, Marco Borggreve, Sussi Ahlburg, Simon Fowler, Patrick O’Leary, Barbara Luisi, Giorgia Bertazzi, Ozgur Albayrak, Tony Hauser, Werner Kmetitsch, Dario Acosta, Sheila Rock, Jeff Fusco, Mat Hennek/DG, Tom Crane, Kristin Hoebermann, Felix Broede, Kiyotaka Saito, Sorin Popa, SWR/Uwe Ditz, Sony Music Entertainment, Harald Hoffman, Evelyn Taylor, Outumuro, Todd Rosenberg

Prices are subject to change, lock your groups in today!

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Groups of 10 or more save up to 30%. Order Today! Call 215.875.7695 or visit www.philorch.org/groupsales

2016-17 Highlights include Three-week Paris Festival, John Williams’s E.T. with film, Rachmaninoff Festival, Daphnis and Chloé, Carmina burana, and more

Yannick and the Orchestra performing for Pope Francis at the Festival of Families

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