PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — The stars are shining with the Philadelphia Orchestra for its 125th birthday season. From pianist Emmanuel Ax to cellist Yo Yo Ma and violinist Itzhak Perlman, some of the biggest names in classical music are coming to help celebrate.
Opening night is September 25th with music and artistic director Yannick Nézet-Séguin joined by Yuja Wang on piano.
Days later, principal guest conductor Marin Alsop leads the orchestra in a program featuring a pianist Yun-Chan Lim, described as a ‘one-in-a-million talent,’ and the world premiere of a piece commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra by composer John Adams.
The orchestra’s long tradition of innovation is one of the themes of this celebratory season. It was the first orchestra on the radio, on TV and in the movies.
Its second music director, Leopold Stokowski, is famous for partnering with Walt Disney for the 1940 release of Fantasia. To celebrate the orchestra’s 125th anniversary, the orchestra is performing the music of Fantasia live with the film. Watch the original film and you’ll hear the Philadelphia Orchestra playing in the Academy of Music.
The orchestra is also celebrating its 25th season in the Kimmel Center and the 250th birthday of our nation next year.
To mark the Semiquincentennial, Julia Wolfe has composed a work called The Liberty Bell, and Jazz Legend Wynton Marsalis will premiere his Liberty Symphony in a concert that combines the Philadelphia Orchestra with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
Philadelphia Orchestra 2025-26 Season
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