The Philadelphia Orchestra Announces Audience Selected Pieces for Stokowski Celebration Concert

Honoring a Stokowski tradition, the six audience selected pieces for the final Stokowski concert have been selected

(Philadelphia, May 22, 2012)— The Philadelphia Orchestra is happy to announce the six musical selections chosen by Orchestra audiences for the final Stokowski Celebration concert on Saturday, June 23, at the Academy of Music. The selections include some of the greatest composers in classical history: Stokowski’s orchestration of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor, Tchaikovsky’s Suite from The Nutcracker and Dukas’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (both to be shown with the film Fantasia), Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, Stravinsky’s Suite from The Firebird, and Wagner’s “The Ride of the Valkyries,” from Die Walküre.

In the spirit of Stokowski, this Audience Choice Concert pays special homage to the legendary maestro’s annual tradition of a concert based on requests from the audience. Several months ago the process to select the music for the concert began with audience submissions from March 26-April 18. On April 23 the top submissions were posted on the Orchestra’s website, and the public had until May 19 to vote for the pieces they wanted to hear at the concert. All the public votes were tabulated and the final selections were approved by Music Director Designate Yannick Nézet-Séguin, who will be conducting the Orchestra for all four of the Stokowski Celebration concerts (June 21-23).

Many of the pieces in the program are not just classical music favorites, but are also recognizable to the non-classical music listener, as the works have played roles in quite a few Hollywood movies. Two of the pieces were among those recorded by The Philadelphia Orchestra for Fantasia, and Stravinsky’s Suite from The Firebird was included in the remake of the movie, Fantasia 2000. Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor has been heard in such movies as Sunset Boulevard, A Canterbury Tale, and 20,000 Leagues under the Sea; while Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries” made appearances in The Smurfs, Night at the Museum, and Super Troopers, and Bernstein’s music from West Side Story has become known around the world.

“I am excited about this announcement, as an Audience Choice Concert pays a great homage to the Stokowski era,” said Yannick Nézet-Séguin. “It is a great pleasure to not only honor the great Leopold Stokowski, but to be able to interact with our audience and perform pieces that the public wants to hear the Fabulous Philadelphians perform.”

In continuing to honor Stokowski and his nature of exploring new experiences for the concert hall, a ground-breaking and exhilarating theatrical experience, Symphony V.0, will enhance this concert by transforming the hall. Under the direction of renowned opera and theater director James Alexander, the historic and beautiful interior of the Academy of Music will be visually transformed with this technological wizardry. These cutting edge live effects and high-definition visuals will take the audience on a visual ride. To see the process in creating these inventive visuals, visit http://www.philorch.org/blog/.

Stokowski Centenary

Philadelphia Orchestra legend Leopold Stokowski took the reins as leader of The Philadelphia Orchestra on October 11, 1912, thus beginning a legacy that extended throughout his 29-year tenure and still resonates within the Orchestra today. One hundred years later Yannick Nézet-Séguin steps into the rich tradition and heritage that Stokowski endowed upon the Orchestra, and celebrates this history while leading the Orchestra into its future. Said Yannick Nézet-Séguin, “I am privileged to step into this wonderful heritage that Stokowski has given all of us. He shaped The Philadelphia Orchestra into a very forward-thinking orchestra, and it is that spirit that we hope to capture in 2012-13 and beyond. Even as we look to the future, we are also honoring our tradition.”

The Philadelphia Orchestra’s 2012-13 season honors Leopold Stokowski, the man who began the modern era for the Orchestra, and pays tribute to this vibrant artistic ancestry through programming that celebrates his spirit, performing works he first introduced to Philadelphia, welcoming collaborations with artistic partners, drawing inspiration from his programming, and creating unique concert experiences. That season’s programs include several pieces that Stokowski premiered in Philadelphia, as well as some of his famous arrangements of works by Bach. Several guest conductors, including Simon Rattle, Emmanuel Krivine, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, and Donald Runnicles, selected their repertoire based on inspiration from historic Stokowski programs.

Leopold Stokowski

Leopold Stokowski was conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra from 1912 to 1941 (sharing the post with Eugene Ormandy for the last five years). Early in his tenure Stokowski quickly began leading the Orchestra toward new visions of musical excellence and excitement. Conducting a series of major world and U.S. premieres, including works by Berg, Mahler, Rachmaninoff, Schoenberg, Scriabin, Sibelius, and Stravinsky, Stokowski firmly established Philadelphia’s prominence in American classical music. In addition to making widely-acclaimed recordings with the ensemble, he instituted many other Philadelphia Orchestra traditions, including concerts created especially for children and symphonic tours throughout the country.

Stokowski Celebration in the Academy of Music

June 21 at 8:00 PM – Thursday evening – Academy of Music

The Philadelphia Orchestra

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor

Dvořák                                      Symphony No. 9 (“From the New World”)

Rimsky-Korsakov                        Sheherazade

Tickets: $10-$95, 215.893.1999 or www.philorch.org.

June 22 at 2:00 PM – Friday afternoon – Academy of Music

The Philadelphia Orchestra

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor

Brahms                                     Symphony No. 1

Ippolitov-Ivanov                          Caucasian Sketches

Wagner                                     Overture to Tannhäuser

Tickets: $10-$95, 215.893.1999 or www.philorch.org.

June 23 at 11:30 AM – Saturday morning – Academy of Music

Family Concert

The Philadelphia Orchestra

Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor

Featuring repertoire from Fantasia

Bach/orch. Stokowski                 Toccata and Fugue in D minor

Tchaikovsky                               Suite from The Nutcracker

Beethoven                                 Excerpts from Symphony No. 6 (“Pastoral”)

Debussy/orch. Stokowski             “Clair de lune,” from Suite bergamasque

Dukas                                       The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

Presentation licensed by Disney Music Publishing © Disney

Tickets: $10-$40, 215.893.1999 or www.philorch.org.