Classical Music in Philadelphia
Contents
If you’re a fan of classical music, you’ll want to check out what’s happening in Philadelphia. Home to some of the world’s best orchestras, the city is a great place to enjoy live music.
Introduction
Classical music in Philadelphia refers to the classical music scene in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The city is home to a range of classical music organizations and venues, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, Curtis Institute of Music, Pennsylvania Ballet, and Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia. These organizations present a variety of concerts and performances throughout the year.
The city also has a number of smaller organizations and ensembles that perform classical music, such as the Philly Pops, chamber orchestras, and choral groups. In addition, there are a number of college and university music programs that offer performances of classical works.
The Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is one of the “Big Five” American orchestras, and has been an influential part of the city’s cultural scene since its founding in 1900. The Orchestra is based at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, and performs over 200 concerts each year. If you’re looking for a classical music fix, this is the place to go!
The Curtis Institute of Music
Curtis is one of the world’s leading music schools, with a faculty of renowned artists and a alumni that include some of the most accomplished musicians performing today. Located in Philadelphia, Curtis offers a distinctive combination of artistic excellence and intimate scale.
Founded in 1924 by Mary Louise Curtis Bok, the Curtis Institute of Music has shared the talents of its students with the world for nearly a century. From Leonard Bernstein to Eva Chen Yeh, alumni of Curtis fill orchestral halls and opera houses on five continents.
opera house
The Pennsylvania Ballet
The Pennsylvania Ballet (PB) is a ballet company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Barbara Weisberger in 1963 with the assistance of Maria Plisetskaya and Russian émigré George Cardenas. The company is currently based at the Academy of Music. PB artists are frequently featured on live broadcasts of NPR’s Performance Today and BBC Radio 3’s In Tune.[2]
The Pennsylvania Ballet is committed to American works and commissioning new ballets. Its annual production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker has been seen by over one million people.[3] In addition to presenting a variety of both established works and world premieres, The Pennsylvania Ballet has created award-winning educational programs including its nationally recognized Kinections program which pairs orchestral musicians with dancers in performances that have been seen by over 100,000 school children throughout the city of Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company
The Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company is one of the oldest and most prestigious opera companies in the United States. Founded in 1957, the company has presented some of the biggest names in opera, including Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, and Placido Domingo. The company is also known for its innovative programming, which often features new or rarely-performed works.
The Philadelphia Singers
The Philadelphia Singers was formed in 1974 by Michael Korn, who remained its artistic director until 2006. The ensemble consists of approximately 50 professional singers from the greater Philadelphia region, who perform a broad repertoire of choral music ranging from the Renaissance to 21st-century works. The group has been described as “one of America’s finest choral ensembles” and “a model of artistic excellence.” In addition to its regular concert series, The Philadelphia Singers has appeared as part of the city’s renowned orchestra’s subscription series and at Carnegie Hall.
The Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia
The Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia, the oldest choral society in the United States (@MendelssohnClub), performs twice a year in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Each spring, the Mendelssohn Club presents its Masterworks Series, which consists of three large-scale concerts featuring classical works for chorus and orchestra. These works are typically performed with other local arts organizations, such as The Philadelphia Orchestra and The Curtis Institute of Music. In the fall, the Mendelssohn Club performs its Pops Series, consisting of three choral/orchestral concerts featuring lighter classical pieces and popular favorites.
The Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale
The Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale is a classical boys choir based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is the oldest boys choir in America, founded in 1858. The Choir has performed under the direction of such musical luminaries as Leonard Bernstein and Arturo Toscanini. The Choir has been a part of such historic events as the State funeral of President John F. Kennedy and the Inauguration Ceremony of Pope Benedict XVI.
The Philadelphia Folk Song Society
The Philadelphia Folk Song Society is a volunteer organization committed to keeping traditional songs alive. They were founded in 1933 by Quaker social activist, Ethel Gordon Fenwick, and song collector/song leader, Helen Hartness Flanders. The Society held their meetings at the Friends Meeting House on 15th and Cherry Streets in Philadelphia. The meetings were open to the public and anyone could come and learn the songs.
The Society members were mostly from the working class and ranged in age from their twenties to their seventies. They gave monthly concerts, held sing-alongs, published songbooks, and went on collecting trips to rural areas of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. In addition to traditional folk songs, they also collected labor songs, protest songs, African American spirituals, and songs of immigrant groups.
The Philadelphia Folk Song Society has continued to be active throughout the years. They have published several more songbooks and CDs of their music. They continue to hold monthly concerts and sing-alongs that are open to the public.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many great options for classical music in Philadelphia. For those looking for a more intimate experience, there are many small venues that offer performances by local and visiting artists. For those looking for a more grandiose experience, there are several large concert halls that host world-renowned orchestras and soloists. No matter what your taste in classical music is, Philadelphia has something to offer.
