2022–23 SEASON: TRANSFORMATION YANNICK NÉZET-SÉGUIN and THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA on the Kimmel Cultural Campus

LANG LANG AND BALLETX TO OPEN SEASON SEPTEMBER 28
Nézet-Séguin to Conduct Choreographer Tiler Peck’s Setting of
Valerie Coleman’s Umoja, Saint-Saëns, Dvořák

FLORENCE PRICE EXPLORATION CONTINUES
Nézet-Séguin to Lead Price Violin Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 with Randall Goosby

Nézet-Séguin to Conduct Price Symphony No. 3
with Beatrice Rana Performing Clara Schumann’s Piano Concerto

NÉZET-SÉGUIN TO CONDUCT THREE WORLD PREMIERE COMMISSIONS
John Luther Adams’s Vespers of the Blessed Earth
Composer-in-Residence Gabriela Lena Frank’s Picaflor
Xi Wang’s Ēnso

RACHMANINOFF’S 150TH BIRTHDAY
Celebrating His Special Relationship with The Philadelphia Orchestra
Yuja Wang to Perform All Four Piano Concertos and Paganini Rhapsody,
Conducted by Nézet-Séguin 

Stéphane Denève to Conduct Symphony No. 3
with Yefim Bronfman Performing the U.S. Premiere of Elena Firsova’s Piano Concerto 

Nézet-Séguin to Conduct The Bells with Philadelphia Symphonic Choir

PRINCIPAL GUEST CONDUCTOR NATHALIE STUTZMANN LEADS

World Premiere of Hilary Purrington’s Words for Departure, an Orchestra Commission;
Mozart’s Requiem; Schoenberg’s Transfigured Night 

Bruch Concerto for Clarinet and Viola with Principal Clarinet Ricardo Morales
and Principal Viola Choong-Jin Chang, Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony 

Brahms Violin Concerto with Gil Shaham

MUSIC THAT TRANSFORMS
Nézet-Séguin to Conduct William Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony,
Premiered by Leopold Stokowski and The Philadelphia Orchestra in 1934 

Nézet-Séguin to Conduct Farrenc’s Symphony No. 3
alongside Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with Seong-Jin Cho

Aaron Diehl Trio to Perform Mary Lou Williams’s Zodiac Suite 

Jennifer Koh to Perform World Premiere of Nina Young’s Traces, for violin and orchestra 

Roderick Cox to Lead John Adams’s Dr. Atomic Symphony

Nézet-Séguin to Conduct Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with Pretty Yende,
Sheku Kanneh-Mason in Haydn’s Cello Concerto in D major 

William Eddins to Conduct Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with Hilary Hahn and
First Philadelphia Orchestra Performances of Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson’s Sinfonietta No. 1

Innovative Dance Company Brian Sanders’ JUNK Returns for Shchedrin’s Carmen Suite 

Emanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos, and Yo-Yo Ma to Perform One-Night-Only Recital
of Beethoven Trios

FILM SERIES: Big Screen, Full Orchestral Sound

Home Alone
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Marvel Studios’Black Panther

FAMILY CONCERTS RETURN

Including “Who Is Florence Price?” Program with Students from
the Special Music School at Kaufman Music Center

OUR CITY, YOUR ORCHESTRA
Collaborations with the Diverse Communities of Philadelphia

HEARTOGETHER PODCAST
Conversations on Social Justice, Creative Equity, and the Musical World

(Philadelphia, April 7, 2022)— After more than two years of transition and evolution, The Philadelphia Orchestra and Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin announce a fresh musical vista with bright horizons, the 2022–23 Season: TRANSFORMATION. Influenced by our time, humanity, and progress, the season reflects a reborn institution with a collaborative artistic vision. The full press kit for the 2022–23 season, including a complete chronological calendar, can be found here.

“Transition has defined these times. Within that idea lives transformation, and beautiful new musical horizons,” said Nézet-Séguin. “Musical transformation can be inspired by composers and conductors, ideas and themes, artists and repertoire. The 2022–23 season of The Philadelphia Orchestra is a diverse mosaic of all these aspects. I see connections between Florence Price’s music from the last century and the work and ideas of Composer-in-Residence Gabriela Lena Frank and John Luther Adams, which bring us into the present. When we perform the world premieres of Gabriela’s Picaflor and John’s Vespers of the Blessed Earth, there is common ground to discover, a continuum of music that points us to the future.” 

“These past years have proven, again, the necessity of collaboration for society to thrive, and the essential role music plays in moving us forward with the most positive spirit,” said Matías Tarnopolsky, president and CEO of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Inc. “Every day, we work to ensure that The Philadelphia Orchestra has ever deeper connection to audiences, and integral meaning in the lives of all Philadelphians and beyond. With Yannick and the Orchestra as our guides and inspiration, we bring people together, build connection and association, and create meaning through music.”

Celebrating his eleventh season with The Philadelphia Orchestra, Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin will open the 2022–23 season on September 28 with a special program featuring Lang Lang performing Saint-Saëns’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and contemporary ballet company BalletX making its Philadelphia Orchestra debut in choreographer Tiler Peck’s setting of Valerie Coleman’s Umoja, Anthem for Unity (which the Orchestra commissioned and premiered in 2019). In October, the Orchestra’s exploration and celebration of the music of Florence Price will continue, as Nézet-Séguin leads the first Philadelphia Orchestra performances of her Violin Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 with Randall Goosby (October 6–9) and her Third Symphony (October 27, 29–30). The Orchestra will also commemorate Sergei Rachmaninoff’s 150th birthday with performances of The Bells (October 6–9), all four piano concertos and the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with Yuja Wang (January 26–February 5), and the Third Symphony (February 23–25).

Music that Transforms

Women artists continue to be at the forefront of The Philadelphia Orchestra’s seasons. Commissions by a number of composers who participated in the Orchestra’s 2018 composer showcase will receive their long-awaited premieres—delayed by the pandemic—during the 2022–23 season. Hilary Purrington’s Words for Departure, a choral work that reflects on relationships in our changing world, will be performed October 20–23. Featuring the poetry of Louise Bogan, Words for Departure was composed in the early months of the pandemic as a meditation on the importance of investing in others and examining how we treat one another. Principal Guest Conductor Nathalie Stutzmann will lead the Orchestra and the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir in this performance alongside Arnold Schoenberg’s Transfigured Night and Mozart’s Requiem. Also receiving world premieres are Nina Young’s Traces, for violin and orchestra with violinist Jennifer Koh, an Orchestra co-commission (November 17–19) and Xi Wang’s Ensō, named for a sacred Buddhist symbol meaning circle, that considers the flow and togetherness of nature and people, also an Orchestra commission (December 8–10).

The Orchestra will bring its latest collaboration with Brian Sanders’ JUNK from the Digital Stage to the Verizon Hall stage with a performance of Shchedrin’s Carmen Suite. JUNK, known for its physically intense performance experiences and innovative style, will transform Shchedrin’s music into an immersive, modern Carmen. Kensho Watanabe will return to lead these concerts, which also feature Lili Boulanger’s Of a Sad Evening and Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite (March 10–12).

The Orchestra will also continue its exploration of works by artists whose voices have been historically underrepresented. Nézet-Séguin will lead an ongoing celebration of works by Florence Price, with performances of her two violin concertos (October 6–9) and her Symphony No. 3, composed amid the Chicago Renaissance. Nézet-Séguin will conduct the Symphony alongside the first Philadelphia Orchestra performances of Clara Schumann’s Piano Concerto with Beatrice Rana (October 27, 29–30).

On November 14, 1934, Leopold Stokowski and The Philadelphia Orchestra gave the world premiere of William Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony, one of the first works by a Black composer to be premiered by a major American orchestra. Now, almost 90 years later, Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphians will present this emotional and personal work, inspired by traditional spirituals (February 2–3). In addition, pianist Aaron Diehl will return, bringing with him the Aaron Diehl Trio, to join the Orchestra in its first performances of Mary Lou Williams’s Zodiac Suite, a genre-crossing work inspired by musicians born under each of the astrological signs. Cristian Măcelaru will conduct the program, which also features Strauss’s Also sprach Zarathustra (April 13–14, 16).

In a musical exploration of the environment and the fragility of nature, Nézet-Séguin and the Orchestra will be joined by Philadelphia-based choral group The Crossing (in its Philadelphia Orchestra debut) for the world premiere of John Luther Adams’s Vespers of the Blessed Earth,an Orchestra commission(March 30, April 1–2). Driven by a deep concern for the state of the earth and the future of humanity, Adams composed Vespers as a reflection on humanity’s impact on the planet. The world premiere will take place alongside Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring.  

Bringing the season to a triumphant finale, Nézet-Séguin will lead the world premiere of Composer-in-Residence Gabriela Lena Frank’s Picaflor, the retelling of a traditional Peruvian creation myth about a picaflor, or hummingbird, that pollinates the world and its varying wildlife, giving birth to a vibrant and complex earth. To share a message of environmental consciousness and cultural inclusivity, this community commission will be told through the voices of Philadelphians. The experiences and personal origin stories of students and teachers from the School District of Philadelphia will inspire the text, and students and teachers from Esperanza will help to create a visual art component. Nézet-Séguin will conduct the world premiere alongside Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique (May 11–13).

Rachmaninoff 150

“Philadelphia has the finest orchestra I have ever heard at any time or any place in my whole life. I don’t know that I would be exaggerating if I said that it is the finest orchestra the world has ever heard.”—Sergei Rachmaninoff 

The Philadelphia Orchestra will commemorate the 150th birthday of Sergei Rachmaninoff and his longstanding relationship with, and love for, the Orchestra. Yuja Wang will join Nézet-Séguin and the Orchestra for two weeks of performances featuring the composer’s four piano concertos and the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (January 26–27 and February 4–5). Nézet-Séguin will also lead performances of The Bells (October 6–9) and former Principal Guest Conductor Stéphane Denève will lead his Symphony No. 3 (February 23–25).

Rachmaninoff’s close, collaborative relationship with The Philadelphia Orchestra began in November 1909, during his initial three-month tour of America. His second appearance with the ensemble took place in March 1919. The following season, the Orchestra presented an all-Rachmaninoff program in February 1920, featuring the composer performing his Piano Concerto No. 3 and Stokowski conducting the American premiere of The Bells. Stokowski and The Philadelphia Orchestra performed and recorded with Rachmaninoff many times in the 1920s and 1930s and gave the world premieres of five of his compositions while he was alive: the Piano Concerto No. 4 (with the composer as soloist) and Three Russian Songs in March 1927, the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in November 1934 (with the composer as soloist), the Third Symphony in November 1936, and Symphonic Dances in January 1941. (It also gave the world premiere of Act I from his opera Monna Vanna in August 1984.)

Additional Season Highlights

The Orchestra’s 2022–23 season will feature the return of many fan favorites alongside thrilling debuts. Audiences will hear music they know and love and discover new works performed by some of today’s leading musical voices.  

• Daniil Trifonov will return to join Nézet-Séguin and the Orchestra for Opening Weekend performances of Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 alongside Valerie Coleman’s Umoja, Anthem for Unity and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 (September 30–October 2)
• Hilary Hahn will perform Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with William Eddins on the podium; the concerts will also feature the first Philadelphia Orchestra performances of Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson’s Sinfonietta No. 1 (October 13–15)
• Bramwell Tovey will conduct the Orchestra in Holst’s The Planets (November 17–19)
• Principal Clarinet Ricardo Morales and Principal Viola Choong-Jin Chang will take center stage as soloists in Bruch’s Concerto for Clarinet and Viola with Principal Guest Conductor Nathalie Stutzmann (December 1–3)
• In a program led by Nézet-Séguin, Sheku Kanneh-Mason will perform Haydn’s Cello Concerto in D major in his Philadelphia Orchestra debut; the program will also feature soprano Pretty Yende in Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 (December 8–10)
• Roderick Cox will make his Philadelphia Orchestra debut conducting the first Philadelphia Orchestra performances of John Adams’s Dr. Atomic Symphony, Ravel’s Suite No. 2 from Daphnis and Chloé, and Augustin Hadelich in Sibelius’s Violin Concerto (January 13–14)
• Nézet-Séguin will lead the Orchestra in its first performances of Louise Farrenc’s Symphony No. 3 and Seong-Jin Cho in Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 2 (January 19–21)
• Gil Shaham will return to perform Brahms’s Violin Concerto on a program also featuring Brahms’s Symphony No. 1, led by Principal Guest Conductor Nathalie Stutzmann (February 9–11)
• Yefim Bronfman will return to perform the United States premiere of Elena Firsova’s Piano Concerto, a Philadelphia Orchestra co-commission, in a program led by Stéphane Denève (February 23–25)
• Emanuel Ax will play Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 18 (March 3–5)
• Pianist Emanuel Ax, violinist Leonidas Kavakos, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma will perform a special one-night-only recital of Beethoven trios (March 18) (This  does not include The Philadelphia Orchestra)
• Dalia Stasevska will make her Philadelphia Orchestra debut leading Wayne Marshall, also in his Philadelphia Orchestra debut, in Poulenc’s Organ Concerto alongside the first Philadelphia Orchestra performances of Andrea Tarrodi’s Liguria and Sibelius’s Symphony No. 5 (March 23–25)
• Inon Barnatan will perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24, led by Karina Canellakis; the program will also feature Julia Perry’s Study for Orchestra and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 (“Eroica”) (April 20 and 22)
• Principal Oboe Philippe Tondre will feature in Strauss’s Oboe Concerto with Matthias Pintscher in his Philadelphia Orchestra conducting debut (April 29–30)
• Nézet-Séguin will lead performances of two of Bruckner’s sacred works, “Christus factus est” and the Te Deum, in addition to his final, and unfinished, Symphony No. 9 (May 5–6)

Film Series

The Philadelphia Orchestra’s film series will bring audiences into the middle of the action as the Orchestra performs timeless scores live alongside beloved films:

• Audiences can relive their favorite moments in Home Aloneas the Orchestra plays John Williams’s Oscar-nominated score of this family favorite (November 25–27)

• With some help from Jim Henson Productions, the Orchestra will usher in the magic of the holiday season with The Muppet Christmas Carol (December 17–18)

• The Orchestra will perform Ludwig Göransson’s Oscar-winning score for Marvel Studios’ Black Panther while audiences enjoy the groundbreaking film (March 17–19)

Family Concerts Return

Following a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Orchestra’s Family Concerts will return during the 2022–23 season. Tailored for children ages six to 12, Family Concerts ignite the imagination and inspire the next generation of music lovers. All Family Concerts are sensory friendly and preceded by Pre-Concert Adventures, interactive explorations of music tied to the theme of the concert. The following Saturday morning programs will take place throughout the season:

• Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf: Conductor Lina Gonzalez-Granados and Narrator Michael Boudewyns will take audiences on a journey through Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, offering the perfect introduction to instruments of the orchestra (October 15)

• Children’s Holiday Spectacular: Aram Demirjian will lead this festive celebration of Christmas favorites and sing-alongs (December 10)

• Peer Gynt: The Orchestra and Enchantment Theatre Company will take audiences on an exploration of Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite, popularized by Looney Tunes, Tim Burton, and The Simpsons (February 11)

• Who Is Florence Price?: The Philadelphia Orchestra will team up with students from the Special Music School at Kaufman Music Center to introduce young listeners to Florence Price, the pioneering Black composer whose work was tragically overlooked during her lifetime (March 25)

2022–23 Season Subscriptions  

Subscription packages go on sale April 7, 2022, at 12 PM ET and Create-Your-Own series will be available beginning May 9, 2022, at www.philorch.org/transform or 215.893.1955. Subscribers to Verizon Hall concerts can enjoy increased flexibility in ticketing with fee-free exchanges. Single tickets will go on sale mid-August.

The Digital Stage Continues

Digital Stage concerts will return with presentations available for at-home streaming. Subscribers can add Digital Stage programs for $10 each. The high-resolution digital performances are accessible on mobile devices, computers, and TV via Chromecast and similar apps. Digital Stage performances begin with a real-time stream, after which they are available on demand for one week.

Lead support for the Digital Stage is provided by:

Claudia and Richard Balderston

Elaine W. Camarda and A. Morris Williams, Jr.

The CHG Charitable Trust

Edith R. Dixon

Innisfree Foundation

Gretchen and M. Roy Jackson

Dr. Richard M. Klein

Neal W. Krouse

John H. McFadden and Lisa D. Kabnick

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation 

Leslie A. Miller and Richard B. Worley

Ralph and Beth Muller

Neubauer Family Foundation

William Penn Foundation

The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage

Peter and Mari Shaw

Dr. and Mrs. Joseph B. Townsend

Waterman Trust

Constance and Sankey Williams

Wyncote Foundation

Your Philadelphia Orchestra

Together with partners in the Philadelphia region, and with thinkers from far and wide, the free digital series Our City, Your Orchestra and the podcast series HearTOGETHER have helped to share stories that inspire, connect, challenge, and unite through the power of music. Both series will continue in the 2022–23 season.   

Originally designed as a way to support Black-owned businesses, non-profit institutions, and other iconic Philadelphia locations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Our City, Your Orchestra connects The Philadelphia Orchestra with communities through music and dialog and celebrates the diversity and vibrancy of the Philadelphia region. Musical selections are chosen specifically for, and in collaboration with, each partner organization to showcase its unique mission, and interviews help tell the inspiring stories of each location. Upcoming episodes will feature organizations advocating for change, sites of historical significance, and businesses that represent and serve resilient communities. Details will be announced at a later date. Episodes will be released on the first and 15th of each month at www.philorch.org/ocyo and will remain available online for viewing at any time. Our City, Your Orchestra is supported in part by the William Penn Foundation, with additional support provided through the PNC Arts Alive initiative, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Presser Foundation.

The HearTOGETHER podcast is a space for honest conversations about music, social justice, and the lived experiences that inform and drive artists, academics, and activists working toward a more equitable and inclusive future for music. Details about season 3 will be announced at a later date. New episodes of HearTOGETHER will be released on the first Friday of each month on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more, as well as at www.philorch.org/heartogether. HearTOGETHER is supported by lead corporate sponsor Accordant Advisors. Additional support has been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

About The Philadelphia Orchestra

About Yannick Nézet-Séguin

About Nathalie Stutzmann

About the 2022–23 Season

About the Digital Stage