Christoph Eschenbach Returns
In his next appearances with The Philadelphia Orchestra, Music Director-Designate Christoph Eschenbach shares his personal interpretation of Stravinsky's primal Rite of Spring (December 5-7). Also on the program are Prokofiev's Classical Symphony, and Red Garuda for piano and orchestra by the American composer Peter Lieberson. The latter piece was written for pianist Peter Serkin and the Boston Symphony in 1999, and Mr. Serkin will perform it here as well. Lieberson explains that the garuda is a Buddhist symbol of a holy bird, "said to have wings of celestial metal, orange-red." He describes the piece as an "imagined journey where this mythical bird, flying freely over a number of different landscapes, represents our own inner freedom to experience different realms of our being." The composer feels that the music evokes the elements of earth, wind, fire, and water, which correspond to various emotional states in each of us. These will be the first performances of a Lieberson work by The Philadelphia Orchestra, but he already has a special tie to the Orchestra: his father was Goddard Lieberson, president of Columbia Records during the heyday of Eugene Ormandy's tenure, and his parents and the Ormandys were close friends. For tickets to these performances, call 215.893.1999 or visit www.philorch.org. The concerts are sponsored by Merck & Co., Inc.

Give the Gift of Music This Holiday Season
With great gift ideas for everyone on your list, The Philadelphia Orchestra helps you share the joy of music with family and friends this holiday season. Introduce a friend to the wonders of the concert experience through the Access Circle series, which offers intermission and post-concert discussions. Access circle subscribers get a musician's view of the concert from the Conductor's Circle seats right behind the Orchestra. Make the Orchestra part of your family's holiday traditions with special seasonal concerts, including this year's new Winter Wonderland program (December 18-22), as well as the Orchestra's annual presentations of Handel's Messiah (December 15-16) and the festive New Year's Eve concert (December 31). Tickets for these holiday performances start as low as $10. Not sure which tickets to give as a gift? The Philadelphia Orchestra offers gift certificates that can be redeemed up to one year from the date of purchase. Visit the Orchestra's Online Gift Shop at www.philorch.org and click on "Buy Tickets," there you'll find tickets, subscriptions, and gift certificates for sale, alongside a selection of Orchestra recordings, videos, and books perfect for holiday giving. Tickets are also available through Ticket Philadelphia by calling 215.893.1999.

Sawallisch's Schumann a Success in New York
Although New York Times critic Allan Kozinn admits "a general lack of regard for Schumann's orchestral works," he expressed no lack of admiration for Music Director Wolfgang Sawallisch's interpretation of an all-Schumann program, presented in October at Carnegie Hall. "If one is spending an evening with Schumann," writes Mr. Kozinn "there are relatively few better ways to do it than with Mr. Sawallisch at the podium. There were moments when his passion for these pieces, combined with the orchestra's beautifully honed sound, gave the music a glow and left a listener almost persuaded that the music is more than it is." The concert was the first of four programs to be presented at Carnegie Hall as part of the Orchestra's Schumann Festival. The Orchestra continues its annual season of performances at Carnegie Hall on January 27 when Mr. Sawallisch leads violinist Leonidas Kavakos and the Orchestra in a performance of Schumann's Violin Concerto; the program also includes Weber's Overture to Der Freischütz and Schumann's Symphony No. 3 ("Rhenish"). For tickets, please call CarnegieCharge at 212.247.7800. For more information on the Orchestra's Schumann Festival, call 215.893.1999 or visit the Orchestra's website at www.philorch.org. The Philadelphia Orchestra's 2002-03 Schumann Festival is sponsored by First Union.

Instrument Drive Gathers Special Gifts for Schools in Need
Help an aspiring musician this holiday season through the donation of a used musical instrument. The Philadelphia Orchestra will accept donations of musical instruments at their Winter Wonderland concerts in Verizon Hall, December 18-22. The donated instruments will be distributed to local schools through a partnership with Strings for Schools. Instruments in need of repair will be refurbished for the students' use through the generosity of Jane Lenel and Harold Golden. For more information, call 215.875.7644.