Free tickets available at www.philorch.org/pride-concert
(Philadelphia, May 12, 2022)—The Philadelphia Orchestra will present its first-ever FREE Pride Concert on Thursday, June 2, at 7:30 PM in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Led by Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the performance will be a celebration of resilience, perseverance, joy, and love—themes that will be apparent throughout the evening in Leonard Bernstein’s Overture to Candide, Jennifer Higdon’s Fanfare Ritmico, selections from Barber’s Suite from Souvenirs, and selections from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus will join the Orchestra in Joseph M. Martin’s “The Awakening”and the Simon & Garfunkel classic “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” And celebrated Canadian violinist Blake Pouliot will make his Philadelphia Orchestra debut performing John Corigliano’s The Red Violin, Chaconne for Violin and Orchestra. Philadelphia drag icon Martha Graham Cracker will make a special appearance. Admission is free, but tickets are required for entry and can be reserved at www.philorch.org/pride-concert.
“We are thrilled to celebrate Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ community,” said Matías Tarnopolsky, president and CEO of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Inc. “Music has the ability to give voice to thoughts and ideas that words alone cannot, inspiring reflection and connecting us more deeply to one another. The commitment to equity from Yannick and the musicians is reflected throughout our seasons, and they lead the way again in this concert.”
“Pride Month is a time to celebrate the strength of the LGBTQ+ community. As a proud member of this community, I am excited to bring our first Pride Concert to Philadelphia in collaboration with the incredible musicians of The Philadelphia Orchestra, Blake Pouliot, the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus, and Martha Graham Cracker,” said Nézet-Séguin. “Together, we look forward to sharing moments of joy and reflection and to celebrating life, love, and the power of community.”
Pride Concert
June 2 at 7:30 PM—Thursday evening—Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor
Blake Pouliot Violin—Philadelphia Orchestra Debut
Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus
Joseph J. Buches Artistic Director
With special appearance by Martha Graham Cracker
Bernstein Overture to Candide
Martin “The Awakening”—First Philadelphia Orchestra Performance
Simon “Bridge Over Troubled Water”
Barber Selections from Suite from Souvenirs
Higdon Fanfare Ritmico
Corigliano The Red Violin, Chaconne for Violin and Orchestra—First Philadelphia Orchestra
Performance
Tchaikovsky Waltz from Swan Lake
Please note: This is a free, general-admission event. Tickets are required for entry into Verizon Hall. Guests will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis beginning 30 minutes prior to the start of the performance.