Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award winner Audra McDonald will perform selections by Gershwin, Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein, and more
Soprano Adela Zaharia to make Philadelphia Orchestra debut
Audience to participate in program through Pauline Oliveros’s “Tuning Meditation”
Opening Night festivities presented by the Volunteer Committees for The Philadelphia Orchestra
(Philadelphia, August 21, 2019)—The Philadelphia Orchestra launches its 120th season on Wednesday, September 18, at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts with a special Opening Night Concert and Gala, featuring a performance by award-winning singer and actor Audra McDonald. Led by Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Fabulous Philadelphians officially kick off the 2019–20 season with a celebratory program featuring selections by Gershwin, Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein, and more. Acclaimed soprano Adela Zaharia will make her Philadelphia Orchestra debut, performing an aria from Verdi’s La traviata. The concert will also include audience participation in the first Philadelphia Orchestra performance of Pauline Oliveros’s “Tuning Meditation,” from Four Mediations for Orchestra.
“We are thrilled to have the sensational Audra McDonald and Adela Zaharia joining Your Philadelphia Orchestra on stage for our Opening Night Concert,” said Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, who will begin his eighth season with the Orchestra. “In the spirit of togetherness, we also look forward to having our beloved audience join in Pauline Oliveros’s ‘Tuning Meditation,’ which will undoubtedly be a magical moment of the evening.”
Orchestra President and CEO Matías Tarnopolsky adds, “From the breadth and power of women in music, to the contemporary relevance of Beethoven on his 250th birthday, to Music that Transforms, there is much to look forward to this season! Our Opening Night Concert and Gala is made possible thanks to the dedication of our Volunteer Committees, resulting in what is sure to be an unforgettable evening and an extraordinary start to a season full of musical memories with Your Philadelphia Orchestra.”
The Opening Night Concert and Gala begins with the Benefactors’ Gala Reception at 5:30 PM in the Kimmel Center’s Tier Two Lounge. The concert begins at 7 PM in Verizon Hall and will be performed without intermission. Immediately following the concert, gala attendees will enjoy a black-tie, Asian-inspired dinner—in celebration of the Orchestra’s upcoming fall Tour of Asia—in Commonwealth Plaza, catered by Garces, with décor by Evantine Design, Inc.
Concert and gala tickets, as well as concert-only tickets, are currently on sale. Gala tickets start at $500 and are available online or by calling 215.893.3124. Concert-only tickets range from $95-$250 and are available through Ticket Philadelphia at 215.893.1999 or by visiting www.philorch.org. Young Friends of The Philadelphia Orchestra are invited to attend the Opening Night Concert and Gala for the special price of $175. For more information, visit www.philorch.org/openingnight.
The musicians of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin are graciously donating their services for this concert. All gala events are organized under the direction of Volunteer Committees President Nancy Galloway. Early support of the Opening Night Concert and Gala was led by Opening Night Co-Chairs Richelle Rabenou, Peter Shaw, and Assistant Principal Cello Yumi Kendall, as well as The Philadelphia Orchestra’s Board of Directors and dedicated Volunteers.
The Volunteer Committees for The Philadelphia Orchestra were formed in 1904, four years after the Orchestra’s first concerts. The Women’s Committee, as it was originally called, was the first permanent organization of its kind in the U.S., and has since come to serve as a model for similar groups in the U.S. and abroad. The current Volunteer Committees for The Philadelphia Orchestra include Central, Chestnut Hill, Main Line, Musical Cocktails, New Jersey, Rittenhouse Square, and West Philadelphia. Through their endeavors over the past century, thousands of members of the Volunteer Committees have given countless hours and innumerable talents in service to The Philadelphia Orchestra and the people of the greater Philadelphia region.
Opening Night
September 18 at 7:00 PM—Wednesday evening—Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor
Adela Zaharia Soprano—PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA DEBUT
Audra McDonald Soprano
Strauss Suite from Der Rosenkavalier
Verdi “È strano! … Ah, fors’è lui … Sempre libera,” from La traviata
Oliveros “Tuning Meditation,” from Four Meditations for Orchestra
Gershwin, Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein Selections
Audra McDonald is unparalleled in the breadth and versatility of her artistry as both a singer and an actor. The winner of a record-breaking six Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards, and an Emmy Award, she was named one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2015 and received a 2015 National Medal of Arts. She joins Yannick and the Orchestra, performing beloved selections by Gershwin, Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein, and more, for a truly unforgettable evening.
Join us to celebrate Yannick’s eighth season as music director and the lush sounds of Your Philadelphia Orchestra. Opening Night Co-Chairs Richelle Rabenou, Peter Shaw, and Assistant Principal Cello Yumi Kendall, and the Opening Night Gala Committee look forward to welcoming you to this celebratory evening with Philadelphia’s cultural leaders and arts patrons.
For gala information and tickets, please call 215.893.3124 or visit www.philorch.org/openingnight.
For concert-only tickets, call 215.893.1999 or visit www.philorch.org.
The Philadelphia Orchestra would like to extend sincere gratitude to our 2019 Opening Night Supporters.
Cocktail Benefactor
Edith R. Dixon
Diamond Benefactor
Patricia and John Imbesi
Joseph Neubauer and Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer
Mari and Peter Shaw
Richard B. Worley and Leslie Miller and the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation
Platinum Benefactor
Ralph Muller and Beth Johnston
Parx Casino
Stradley Ronon
Gold Benefactor
Mrs. Constance Benoliel-Rock
Judith Broudy
Tobey and Mark Dichter
John and Rosemary Diederich
Lisa and Peter DiLullo
Dilworth Paxsonb LLP
Mrs. Elise R.W. du Pont
Alexandra Edsall and Robert Victor
Joseph and Marie Field
Marcy Gringlas and Joel Greenberg
Stephen Klein and Toby Strogatz
Neal W. Krouse
Bong S. Lee and Soyoung Kim
Malmud-Kavitz Foundation
Dr. Morton and Rhea Mandell
Sandy and David Marshall
Priscilla Seibert McDougal
John McFadden and Lisa Kabnick
Mrs. Vivian Piasecki
Lyn M. Ross
Dianne and Jeffrey Rotwitt
Mr. and Mrs. Mark E. Rubenstein
Marilyn Sanborne and Richard Labowskie
Charles and Suzanne Valutas
R. Brian Wenzinger
Alison Young and David Maser
Principal Benefactor
Dennis L. Adams
Vijay and Susan Aggarwal
Sherrin Baky-Nessler and William Nessler III
Richard and Claudia Balderston
Edward and Melissa Barnes
Peter A. Benoliel and Willo Carey
Joanne M. Berwind
Charlotte H. Biddle
Sibby Brasler
Naomi and Stephen Breman
Elaine Camarda
Rick and Flo Celender
Sara Cerato
Dr. Robert Cody
Suzanne and Norman Cohn
Michael and Constance Cone
Sarah Miller Coulson
Christos Coutifaris
Nancy and Kenneth Davis
Stacy Maria Dutton and Charles McMahon
Drs. Bruce and Toby Eisenstein
Katharine and Bill Eyre
Mrs. Diane Foxman
Linda Frankel
Nancy and John Galloway
Judy and John Glick
Juliet J. Goodfriend
Kate Hall
Lauren Hart and Todd Carmichael
Martin and Cynthia Heckscher
Robert Heim and Eileen Kennedy
Eric and Lenora Hume
Osagie and Losenge Imasogie
Rachelle and Ronald Kaiserman
Dr. and Mrs. Roy M. Lerman
Elizabeth and Edwin Mahoney
Richard and Florence Maloumian
Joseph Manko, Sr.
Susan and Graham McDonald
George and Keiko Miller
Robert E. Mortensen
Ms. Cathy Moss and Mr. Mitchell Harris
Mr. and Mrs. John Moyer
Louise and Alan Reed
Caroline B. Rogers
Dr. Lee D. Rowe and Lauren Rowe
Adele K. Schaeffer
Carole L. Schultz
Mr. Lee F. Shlifer
Constance Smukler
Mrs. Ann R. Sorgenti
Dr. Judith Sills Swartz and Randy Swartz
Dr. Norman L. Sykes
Leonard and Barbara Sylk
Barbara Augusta Teichert
Barbara Y. Tiffany and H. Robert Tiffany III
Maria Vickers
Ramona and Jack Vosbikian
Alex Westenfield
F. Gordon Yasinow
Michael Zisman and Linda Gamble
Benefactor
George D. Beatty
Maggie and Bob Beck
Sally and Roland Bullard
Mr. and Mrs. James Crowell
Alice B. Cullen
Kali and Vincent Curran
Henry and Kathy Donner
John and Gloria Drosdick
Larry Dubinski
Barbara Eberlein and Jerry Wind
Phyllis and Howard Fischer
Toni and Bob Garrison
Marie and Jeffrey Kenkelen
Joseph Kluger and Susan Lewis
Keith A. Layton
Melanie and Harry Martin
Mr. and Mrs. James W. McLane
Mr. Mark Mills
Lynn and Anthony C. Salvo
Ms. Adrienne Simpson and Ingres H. Simpson
Dr. and Mrs. Alan E. Tasoff
Pat West and Tom Vernon
Paul and Lisa Yakulis
Patron
Franny and Franny Abbott
Kim and David Adler
Dr. Susan C. Aldridge
Betsy Anderson
Alexis and Martha Barron
Jane Crawford Baumgardner
Frank and Suzanne Binswanger
Harris Block
Ellen and Peter Bodenheimer
Dr. and Mrs. Kirk Brandow
Jennifer and David Cardy
Barbara Chimicles
Peggy Cooke
John and Karen Cunningham
Richard Davidson and Linda Golden
Colleen DeMorat and Ray Domboski
Helen H. Ford
Ms. Noël Butcher Hanley
Benjamin Harbold
Russell Harris, M.D., and Carmen Zinni
Jeff and Breanna Harvey
Marybeth Henry
Dr. and Mrs. Gregory Hillyard
James and Hollie Holt
Andrea and Warren Kantor
Bernice J. Koplin and Guy A. Veroli
Drs. Gary and Deborah Ledley
Hon. and Mrs. Stephen Levin
Dr. David W. Low and Dr. Marija Ugrinich
Constance Madara
Terry and Betty McCabe
Mrs. Philippus Miller, Jr.
Anna and Michael Minkovich
Mattie Moore
David and Arlene Morgan
Dr. Gareth Morris-Stiff
Mr. and Mrs. Steven G. Park
Richelle and Kameron Rabenou
Robert and Catharine Rauscher
Diana M. Regan
Dr. and Mrs. David J. Richards
Katherine and Hugh Roome
Roslyn and Frank Roth
Robin Sagoskin
Carol C. Sherman
Stephen and Carol Spinelli
Mrs. Erna Talapan
Mr. and Mrs. David Teppe
Deborah and Andrew Webster
Richard Weisenberg and Faye Senneca
Harriet and Ken Wiseman
Lisa Witomski and James Scott
Young Friend
Miss Heather Aspras
James and Micaela Brandau
Francesco Caruso
Courtney Carey
Kristin Detterline
Drs. John and Jennifer Fontana
J. Andrew Greenblatt
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Heilig
Ari S. Kaplan
Ronald Kolla, Esq.
Phoebe Loh
Dr. Nina Radcliff and Carmen Radcliff
Hugo M. Rocha
Len S. and Katie K.
Nicole Salomone
Mr. and Mrs. Justin Shipe
Christopher Stearns and Jared Susco
Alvaro Zarate
Donations
Margaret and Robert Morris
Mr. Barclay Whitaker
David A. Wickard
About The Philadelphia Orchestra
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CONTACTS:
Ashley Berke
215.893.1939
aberke@philorch.org
Natalie Lewis
215.893.3136
nlewis@philorch.org