The Philadelphia Orchestra brightens the holidays with music of the season

Orchestra performs Handel’s beloved Messiah for 45th year 

PNC Bank presents The Glorious Sound of Christmas concert series 

Renowned quintet Canadian Brass returns, joined by Orchestra members, for an entertaining evening of seasonal favorites

 Orchestra celebrates the New Year with a program of American classics

(Philadelphia, November 22, 2005)

The Philadelphia Orchestra brightens the holidays with an array of special concerts including Handel’s Messiah (December 11 and 13), The Glorious Sound of Christmas (December 15-17), Holiday Brass featuring the Canadian Brass and the Philadelphia Brass Ensemble (December 18-19), and an American New Year’s Eve (December 31).

The Philadelphia Orchestra’s annual performance of Handel’s Messiah is one of its most beloved holiday traditions. Conductor Stephen Layton, whose acclaimed annual performances of Messiah in London have become one of that city’s most popular Christmas concerts, makes his Philadelphia Orchestra debut. Also performing with the Orchestra for the first time are soprano Mary Wilson, countertenor Michael Chance, and baritone Christopher Schaldenbrand. (Tenor soloist TBA.) The Philadelphia Singers Chorale joins the Orchestra for the 45th year of this annual tradition.

Rossen Milanov, the Orchestra’s associate conductor, leads The Glorious Sound of Christmas , a series of holiday concerts presented by PNC Bank (December 15-17). The program features excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s
The Nutcracker and other familiar favorites. Television personality Beasley Reece of local station CBS-3 reads Clement Moore’s classic poem “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Many people first discovered The Philadelphia Orchestra through its holiday albums The Glorious Sound of Christmas and Joy to the World. Glorious Sound of Christmas was awarded gold record status in 1962 and was the fastest selling classical recording in the history of the music industry at the time.

The Philadelphia Orchestra Association presents Holiday Brass (December 18 and 19). The concert features the Canadian Brass and the Philadelphia Brass Ensemble (made up of Orchestra members Adam Unsworth, horn; David Bilger and Jeffrey Curnow, trumpet; and Nitzan Haroz and Blair Bollinger, trombone). The renowned Canadian quintet, whose members are known for their trademark humor and virtuosic musicianship, joined forces with Orchestra musicians for two sold-out concerts in December 2004. This year, the two groups come together again for another entertaining evening of holiday classics.

The Orchestra rings in 2006 with a New Year’s Eve concert (December 31) featuring music and songs – including Gershwin’s American in Paris – from our own country’s heritage. Alastair Willis makes his Philadelphia Orchestra debut conducting the program. The concert is sponsored by PNC Bank.

Handel’s Messiah
Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

December 11 at 2:00 p.m. – Sunday afternoon
December 13 at 7:00 p.m. – Tuesday evening

The Philadelphia Orchestra
Stephen Layton,conductor – Philadelphia Orchestra Debut
Mary Wilson, soprano – Philadelphia Orchestra Debut
Michael Chance,countertenor – Philadelphia Orchestra Debut
Tenor TBA
Christopher Schaldenbrand , baritone – Philadelphia Orchestra Debut
The Philadelphia Singers Chorale (David Hayes, music director)

 Handel Messiah

Tickets: $10-$77 (call for box seat prices), 215.893.1999 or www.philorch.org

PNC Bank presents The Glorious Sound of Christmas
Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

December 15 at 7:00 p.m. – Thursday evening
December 16 at 7:00 p.m. – Friday evening
December 17 at 7:00 p.m. – Saturday evening

The Philadelphia Orchestra
Rossen Milanov, conductor
Beasley Reece, reader
The Philadelphia Singers Chorale (David Hayes, music director)

Tchaikovsky Excerpts from The Nutcracker
Beethoven “Hallelujah,” from Christ on the Mount of Olives
A Reading “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” by Clement Moore
Pinkham Christmas Cantata – First Philadelphia Orchestra performance
Vaughan Williams Fantasia on “Greensleeves”
Various The Many Moods of Christmas, Suite II

Free Meet and Mingle: The performance on December 16 is f ollowed by a free Meet and Mingle in the lobby with musicians of the Orchestra.

Sponsored by PNC Bank

Media support provided by CBS-3

Tickets: $10-$77.50 (call for box seat prices), 215.893.1999 or www.philorch.org

The Philadelphia Orchestra Association presents Holiday Brass
Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

December 18 at 7:00 p.m. – Sunday evening
December 19 at 7:00 p.m. – Monday evening

The Canadian Brass, brass quintet
Bernhard Scully, horn
Justin Emerich, trumpet
Stuart Laughton, trumpet
Eugene Watts, trombone
Charles Daellenbach, tuba

The Philadelphia Brass Ensemble
featuring members of The Philadelphia Orchestra
Adam Unsworth, horn
David Bilger, trumpet
Jeffrey Curnow, trumpet
Nitzan Haroz, trombone
Blair Bollinger, trombone

Tickets: $10-$42 (call for box seat prices), 215.893.1999 or www.philorch.org

New Year’s Eve Concert
Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

December 31 at 8:00 p.m. – Saturday evening

The Philadelphia Orchestra
Alastair Willis, conductor – Philadelphia Orchestra Debut

 Program includes:
Gershwin An American in Paris

Sponsored by PNC Bank

Tickets: $30-$117 (call for box seat prices), 215.893.1999 or www.philorch.org

UBS, a global financial services leader, is the proud sponsor of The Philadelphia Orchestra’s 2005-06 season.

 Lexus is the exclusive automotive sponsor of The Philadelphia Orchestra.