March 5, 2007
Weekly Classical Music Agenda
Spring break strikes the city of Philadelphia this week. Not to worry, the failsafe Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and the Kimmel Center have a few tricks up their sleeves.
Monday
The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia under Ignat Solzhenitsyn continues with its Mozart Beethoven Haydn program. All the greats in one evening.
Perelman Theater (Kimmel Center); 7:30 PM; $36-$81
The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society presents Mark Kosower, cello, and Jee-Won Oh, piano in an evening of piano sonatas by Bach, Mendelssohn and more.
Fleisher Art Memorial (7th and Catharine); 8 PM; $16
Tuesday
The Philadelphia Orchestra presents a rather exotic program of Sibelius’ Finlandia, which evokes Finnish national struggle, and Rimsky Korsakov’s Sheherazade, based on the Arabian tales of One Thousand and One Nights.
Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center; 8 PM; $38-$80
Wednesday
Leon Bates, piano, will play a solo recital of Liszt, Barber and more.
Pennsylvania Convention Center Auditorium; 8 PM; $22
Thursday
The Philadelphia Orchestra presents works by Weber and Mozart, and Shostakovich’s Fourth Symphony. Interesting fact: after being hidden for decades, Shostakovich’s Fourth Symphony premiered in 1961 and two years later, it was introduced to the U.S. by Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center; 8 PM; $10-$113
Friday
The Pennsylvania Ballet’s version of Carmina Burana may not have fireworks as featured above, but it should add quite a wonderful new dimension to Carl Orff’s classic. The PA Ballet teams up with the Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra and the Philadelphia Kantorei Chorus to present this passionate and crowd-pleasing work.
Academy of Music (Broad and Locust); 8 PM; $10-$121
Saturday
ConcertOPERA Philadelphia continues its run of Bellini's La Sonnambula.
The Ethical Society Building (Rittenhouse Square); 8 PM; $20
Sunday
The Center City Opera Theater presents a semi-staged version of Floyd's Of Mice and Men in the 200-seat Innovation Studio. Hearing any opera in such an intimate venue is not to be missed. There’s also a free Pre-Concert Talk at 1:30 PM.
Innovation Studio (Kimmel Center); 2:30; $36
The Society Hill Synagogue Performing Arts Series presents members of the Philadelphia Orchestra in a chamber concert featuring Mendelssohn, Beethoven, and more.
Synagogue at 418 Spruce Street; 3 PM; $18
The Academy of Vocal Arts presents Jubilate! a concert of Sacred Music and Oratorio Masterpieces. It should be quite interesting to hear these rising opera stars in a non-operatic setting.
The Church of the Holy Trinity, Rittenhouse Square; 3 PM; $33
Looking to expand your ears? The Indiana University New Music Ensemble comes to town spreading its love for the broad spectrum of contemporary music, focusing on works from the past thirty years.
Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center; 8 PM; $25
Image via flickr.com user Andoni M
| 
What exactly is so exotic about "Finlandia" and "Scheherazade?" Is the phillyist like 85 years old or something?
I love the Philadelphia Orchestra, but I have to say that they are way too rooted in the standards. Rarely is there ever any exciting programmming.
I don't blame them entirely--I mostly blame Philadelphians (and stop the hateration--I love Philly to death--it just tends to be a little too conservative on the cultural scene, you know?)
Show us your balls, Philly!
Thanks for the comment! I agree that the Philadelphia Orchestra is too conservative. Such is the plight of most musical groups whose finances rely heavily on donations and ticket sales of concerts featuring "top 40" pieces. I try to find solace in some of the more modern chamber groups around town like the Prism Quartet and the Network for New Music.