THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA CELEBRATES 125 YEARS OF MUSICAL BRILLIANCE?
January 31, 20252025–26 SEASON
MUSIC AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR YANNICK NÉZET-SÉGUIN AND THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA
OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATION FEATURING YUJA WANGRavel’s Piano Concerto in G major, Márquez’s Danzón No. 2,
and Ravel’s Suite No. 2 from Daphnis and Chloe
September 25
COMING TO AMERICA: AMERICA 250
Celebrating Historic World and U.S. Premieres by The Philadelphia Orchestra
Nézet-Séguin Leads Works that The Philadelphia Orchestra Brought to America
Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major featuring Yuja Wang on Opening Night
Sibelius’s Symphony No. 5
Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1 featuring Seong-Jin Cho
Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring
Principal Guest Conductor Marin Alsop and Other Esteemed Conductors Join Celebration
Alsop leads Bartók’s Piano Concerto No. 3 featuring Yunchan Lim and
Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini featuring Haochen Zhang
Stéphane Denève leads Ravel’s Une Barque sur l’océan, commemorating 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Navy
Dalia Stasevska leads Barber’s Violin Concerto
Rafael Payare leads Falla’s El amor brujo
Santtu-Matias Rouvali leads Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 6
Xian Zhang leads Britten’s Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell
VOICES OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM
World Premieres and Works by Celebrated Contemporary Composers
Nézet-Séguin leads world premiere of Pulitzer Prize–winning composer Tyshawn Sorey’s Piano Concerto with Aaron Diehl, a work written for the pianist and commissioned by Yannick Nézet-Séguin and The Philadelphia Orchestra
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra joins The Philadelphia Orchestra and Nézet-Séguin for world premiere of Marsalis’s Symphony No. 5 (“Liberty”), a Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Philadelphia Orchestra commission
Alsop leads world premiere of The Rock You Stand On by John Adams during opening weekend
Elim Chan conducts Philadelphia premiere of Du Yun’s Ears of the Book, Concerto for Pipa and Orchestra, a Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Philadelphia Orchestra commission
Nézet-Séguin leads Philadelphia premiere of Julia Wolfe’s Liberty Bell Overture, a Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Philadelphia Orchestra commission
Nézet-Séguin conducts Jennifer Higdon’s Concerto for Orchestra
Time for Three performs Kevin Puts’s Contact, led by Alsop
Nézet-Séguin leads first subscription performances of Terence Blanchard’s
Orchestral Suite from Fire Shut Up in My Bones
VOICES OF AMERICA
Works by Historically Underrepresented Composers and American Peers
William Grant Still’s Wood Notes
Julius Eastman’s Symphony No. 2 (“The Faithful Friend: The Lover Friend’s Love for the Beloved”)
Louis Ballard’s Devil’s Promenade
Amy Beach’s “Gaelic” Symphony
John Adams’s Short Ride in a Fast Machine
John Williams’s Tuba Concerto featuring Principal Tuba Carol Jantsch
Aaron Copland’s Symphony No. 3
Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story and Symphony No. 1 (“Jeremiah”)
George Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F featuring Hélène Grimaud
NÉZET-SÉGUIN EXPLORES SYMPHONIC MASTERPIECES
Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 (“Resurrection”) and Symphony No. 5
Brahms’s Symphonies Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4
Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7
Ravel’s Suite No. 2 from Daphnis and Chloe
ONE-NIGHT-ONLY PERFORMANCES WITH SUPERSTAR GUESTS
Opening Night with Yuja Wang on September 25
Yo-Yo Ma on January 14
Lang Lang on April 7
SPOTLIGHT SERIES CONTINUES
Hilary Hahn and Lang Lang on December 6
Víkingur Ólaffson on March 19
Itzhak Perlman: In the Fiddler’s House on May 3
PERFORMANCES BY INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER ORCHESTRAS
Galilee Chamber Orchestra with conductor Saleem Ashkar and pianist Bruce Liu on November 19
Chamber Orchestra of Europe with conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, violinist Viktoria Eberle, and cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras on December 1
ACCLAIMED CONDUCTORS AND SOLOISTS PERFORM THROUGHOUT SEASON
Gil Shaham performs Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1
Esa-Pekka Salonen returns to conduct Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 (“Romantic”) and Mozart’s Sinfonia concertante for winds, featuring Principal Oboe Philippe Tondre, Principal Clarinet Ricardo Morales, Principal Bassoon Daniel Matsukawa, and Principal Horn Jennifer Montone
Lisa Batiashvili performs the Sibelius Violin Concerto
Emanuel Ax celebrates 50th anniversary of his Philadelphia Orchestra debut, performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3
María Dueñas performs Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole
Dalia Stasevska conducts two weeks of subscription concerts: Barber’s Violin Concerto with Augustin Hadelich and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 featuring soprano Joélle Harvey; John Williams’s Tuba Concerto featuring Principal Tuba Carol Jantsch, with Julius Eastman’s Symphony No. 2 (“The Faithful Friend: The Lover Friend’s Love for the Beloved”) and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 (“Italian”)
Concertmaster David Kim performs Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto
Hilary Hahn performs Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2
Marc-André Hamelin performs Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2
Jane Glover leads Mozart’s Requiem and Symphony No. 40
Composer-conductor Matthias Pintscher leads his Assonanza, featuring violinist Leila Josefowicz
András Schiff to lead and perform works by Bach, Mozart, Bartók, and Kodály
FILM CONCERTS
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring—score by Howard Shore
Disney’s Fantasia
AMERICA 250: THE ORCHESTRA PERFORMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Orchestra to tour North Carolina, Florida, and Midwest
Summer residencies at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Bravo! Vail Music Festival, and Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Carnegie Hall Concert Series
(Philadelphia, January 31, 2024)—The Philadelphia Orchestra turns 125 on November 16, 2025, as America begins the celebration of its 250th anniversary. Throughout the 2025–26 season, Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and The Philadelphia Orchestra will look to the past and future simultaneously, celebrating the Orchestra’s essential place in American musical life, and in the birthplace of American democracy, as well as its historic and contemporary role as a musical innovator.
The complete media kit for the 2025–26 season, including a chronological calendar, can be found here.
“The 2025–26 season of The Philadelphia Orchestra is a joyful celebration—of the Orchestra’s 125 years of musical brilliance and of America’s 250th birthday,” said Nézet-Séguin. “In this year-long musical fête, we will illuminate works by Bartók, Ravel, Shostakovich, Sibelius, Stravinsky, and more—many of which The Philadelphia Orchestra introduced to America. We will honor the significant yet often overlooked voices of Amy Beach, Julius Eastman, Louis Ballard, and William Grant Still, whose contributions to American music reflect the cultural landscape of our nation. And, as always, we will create a path for the future of music with 21st-century works by John Adams, Philadelphia’s own Jennifer Higdon, Wynton Marsalis, Tyshawn Sorey, Julia Wolfe, Du Yun, and other contemporary voices. Please come celebrate with us—everyone is welcome!”
“Since its creation in 1900, The Philadelphia Orchestra has been a global symbol of artistic excellence,” said Ryan Fleur, interim president and CEO of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts. “From the bold vision of our pioneering founding members to the development of the iconic Philadelphia Sound to the unmatched talent of the musicians of today, our legacy has been shaped by the power of music to inspire and connect. Music remains our guiding light, and every moment of this anniversary reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation and community.”
COMING TO AMERICA
The Philadelphia Orchestra has been at the forefront of classical music by developing deep relationships with the most influential composers of the day and premiering some of the greatest masterpieces ever written. Under the banner of Coming to America, to celebrate the Orchestra’s 125th anniversary and America 250, The Philadelphia Orchestra will perform works that received their world or United States premieres by the ensemble, celebrating the rich history, innovation, and influence of the Orchestra since its founding.
On Opening Night in Marian Anderson Hall, Nézet-Séguin will lead the Orchestra and superstar pianist Yuja Wang in Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major, a work that was given its U.S. premiere by both The Philadelphia Orchestra and the Boston Symphony Orchestra on April 22, 1932. The program will also feature Márquez’s Danzón No. 2 and Ravel’s Suite No. 2 from Daphnis and Chloe (September 25).
The Orchestra enjoyed a close connection to Jean Sibelius and gave the U.S. premiere of three of his symphonies between 1921–26. In the 2025–26 season, Nézet-Séguin will lead the Orchestra in Sibelius’s Fifth Symphony, which received its U.S. premiere on October 21, 1921 (November 29–30). The Orchestra similarly fostered deep ties with Russian composers Dmitri Shostakovich and Igor Stravinsky. Eleven of Shostakovich’s works received their first performances outside of the USSR, U.S. premiere, or Western Hemisphere premiere by the ensemble. Stravinsky sought refuge from the Russian Revolution first in Europe and then in America. He conducted the Philadelphians numerous times between 1925 and 1964, and the ensemble gave the U.S. premieres of a number of his works. Nézet-Séguin will lead performances of works by both composers that received premieres by The Philadelphia Orchestra: Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1 (U.S. premiere, December 12, 1934) featuring Seong-Jin Cho and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, premiered in the U.S. on March 3, 1922 (January 31–February 1).
Principal Guest Conductor Marin Alsop will lead Béla Bartók’s Piano Concerto No. 3 featuring Yunchan Lim in his Philadelphia Orchestra debut (October 3–5). Eugene Ormandy and the Orchestra gave the world premiere of the Concerto on February 8, 1946. The Orchestra had a longstanding relationship with Sergei Rachmaninoff that began in 1909 during his initial three-month tour of America. The ensemble recorded with the composer many times in the 1920s and ’30s and gave the world premieres of five of his compositions while he was alive, one of which was the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini on November 7, 1934. Alsop will lead performances of the piece with pianist Haochen Zhang (March 20–22).
Former Principal Guest Conductor Stéphane Denève will lead Ravel’s Une Barque sur l’océan in a performance that commemorates the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy (October 10–11). The piece was given its U.S. premiere by the Orchestra, led by Ormandy, on March 17, 1953. The Philadelphia Orchestra gave the world premiere of the original version of Barber’s Violin Concerto on February 7, 1941. Dalia Stasevska will lead Augustin Hadelich in performances of the revised version of the work, paired with Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 and John Adams’s Short Ride in a Fast Machine (January 9–11). Rafael Payare will conduct Manuel de Falla’s El amor brujo, a work that received its U.S. premiere by the Orchestra under the baton of Leopold Stokowski on April 15, 1922. Santtu-Matias Rouvali will make his Orchestra debut leading Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 6, which was given its U.S. premiere, and first performance outside of the USSR, by the Orchestra on November 29, 1940 (February 12–14). Xian Zhang will lead Britten’s Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell, paired with Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony. The Britten work is well-known as The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, which received its U.S. premiere by the Orchestra and Eugene Ormandy on December 13, 1947, but will be heard in its version without narration (February 26–28).
VOICES OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM
In addition to honoring these formative works of the repertoire, the Orchestra will celebrate the future of American classical music with Voices of the New Millennium, a selection of works by contemporary composers at the height of their creativity. The creation of new repertoire by prominent composers has been central to the Orchestra’s mission since its earliest days.
Alsop will open the subscription season with the world premiere of a new work by one of the most preeminent contemporary composers of our time, John Adams. The Rock You Stand On will kick off the season-long anniversary celebration, honoring the ensemble’s rich history of premiering new works by some of the most renowned living composers throughout history. It is paired with Bartók’s Piano Concerto No. 3 featuring Yunchan Lim and selections from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet (October 3–5).
Nézet-Séguin will lead the world premiere of a piano concerto written for acclaimed pianist Aaron Diehl by Philadelphia-based composer Tyshawn Sorey, who won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Music (May 15–16). The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra will join The Philadelphia Orchestra and Nézet-Séguin for the world premiere of Marsalis’s Symphony No. 5 (“Liberty”), paired with the Philadelphia premiere of Julia Wolfe’s Liberty Bell Overture (both Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Philadelphia Orchestra commissions) and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 (May 28–31). Nézet-Séguin will also lead Jennifer Higdon’s Concerto for Orchestra, which was given its world premiere by The Philadelphia Orchestra, which commissioned the piece, on June 12, 2002, and has been one of the most widely programmed contemporary works since then. The program will also feature Sibelius’s Violin Concerto with Lisa Batiashvili and Tchaikovsky’s Francesca da Rimini (October 24–26). In addition, Nézet-Séguin will lead the first subscription performances of Terence Blanchard’s Orchestral Suite from Fire Shut Up in My Bones, following its world premiere during the Orchestra’s 2024–25 Opening Night Celebration (November 29–30). The work was co-commissioned by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Metropolitan Opera.
Du Yun’s Ears of the Book, Concerto for Pipa and Orchestra, another Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Philadelphia Orchestra commission, will receive its Philadelphia premiere with conductor Elim Chan and world-renowned pipa player Wu Man, paired with Musorgsky’s Pictures from an Exhibition and Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun (January 22–24).
Alsop will lead the Orchestra’s first subscription performances of Kevin Puts’s Contact with celebrated trio Time for Three. The piece was recorded for the first time in 2022 by the Philadelphians and Time for Three, under the baton of Xian Zhang, for the album Letters for the Future (Deutsche Grammophon), and won two GRAMMY awards, for “Best Contemporary Classical Composition” and “Best Classical Instrumental Solo.” The piece is paired with Haydn’s Symphony No. 59 (“Fire”) in its first Philadelphia Orchestra performances, Strauss’s Don Juan, and Ravel’s Bolero (April 23–25).
VOICES OF AMERICA
The Philadelphia Orchestra will celebrate the rich tapestry of American orchestral music throughout the 2025–26 season with works by historically underrepresented composers including William Grant Still, Julius Eastman, Louis Ballard, and Amy Beach, as well as the music of fellow Americans John Adams, John Williams, Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, and George Gershwin.
Nézet-Séguin will lead the Orchestra’s first subscription performances of William Grant Still’s Wood Notes, presented in a new edition that was prepared by Principal Librarian Nicole Jordan and former Assistant Conductor Austin Chanu as part of the Orchestra’s restoration of the music of the prolific Black composer (October 30–November 2). The newly restored edition of Wood Notes, including a previously unpublished fifth movement, was given its world premiere by the Orchestra at Temple Performing Arts Center on June 26, 2024, thanks to generous support by the Pew Foundation for Arts and Culture. Nézet-Séguin will also lead the Orchestra in the “Gaelic” Symphony by Amy Beach, the first American woman to achieve recognition as a symphonic composer, in 1892 (March 12 and 14).
Dalia Stasevska will lead American works across two programs. First, she will conduct John Adams’s Short Ride in a Fast Machine (January 9–11), followed by the first Philadelphia Orchestra performances of Julius Eastman’s Symphony No. 2 (“The Faithful Friend: The Lover Friend’s Love for the Beloved”), paired with John Williams’s Tuba Concerto featuring Principal Tuba Carol Jantsch (January 16–17). Native American composer Louis Ballard’s Devil’s Promenade will also receive its first Philadelphia Orchestra performances, led by Rafael Payare (February 5–7). One of Aaron Copland’s most influential works, his Symphony No. 3, will be performed with excerpts from John Williams’s score for Close Encounters of the Third Kind in a celebratory program led by Matthias Pintscher (April 30–May 2).
To close the season, Nézet-Séguin will conduct a program honoring Leonard Bernstein, one of the most celebrated American composers and conductors our time. An expert on Bernstein who advised actor Bradley Cooper on how to embody the legendary artist in the Academy Award–nominated film Maestro, Nézet-Séguin will lead the Orchestra in Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story and Symphony No. 1 (“Jeremiah”). Pianist Hélène Grimaud will join to perform Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F (June 4–7).
YANNICK EXPLORES SYMPHONIC MASTERPIECES
Throughout the 2025–26 season, Nézet-Séguin will continue his exploration of Mahler’s works with performances of his monumental Symphony No. 2 (“Resurrection”) featuring soprano Ying Fang, mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, and the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir (March 6–8), and his Symphony No. 5 (May 15–16).
In addition, he will lead all of Brahms’s symphonies throughout the season: Symphony No. 4 (October 30), Symphony No. 3 (November 1–2), and Symphony No. 2 (April 7) with The Philadelphia Orchestra, and Symphony No. 1 with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe (December 10).
ONE-NIGHT-ONLY EXPERIENCES WITH SUPERSTAR GUESTS
Some of the world’s biggest stars are coming to Philadelphia for one-night-only special engagements to celebrate the Orchestra’s 125th anniversary, beginning with superstar pianist Yuja Wang on Opening Night (September 25). Legendary cellist and longtime friend of the Orchestra Yo-Yo Ma will perform Dvo?ák’s Cello Concerto in Marian Anderson Hall, led by Dalia Stasevksa, paired with Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 (“Italian”) (January 14). The sensational pianist Lang Lang will join Nézet-Séguin to perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, paired with Brahms’s Symphony No. 2 (April 7).
THE SPOTLIGHT RECITAL SERIES
The Spotlight Series will continue in the 2025–26 season, showcasing some of the biggest talents in classical music in a solo setting. The recital series will begin with violinist Hilary Hahn and Lang Lang in a joint concert featuring works by Schumann, Beethoven, Still, and Saint-Saëns (December 6). Pianist Víkingur Ólafsson will perform selections from Bach’s The Art of Fugue and Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Nos. 30, 31, and 32 (March 19). Violinist Itzhak Perlman will bring his 30th anniversary celebration of the iconic PBS special In the Fiddler’s House to Marian Anderson Hall, featuring Hankus Netsky, Andy Statman, and members of the Klezmer Conservatory Band during Jewish American Heritage Month (May 3).
INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER ORCHESTRAS
Throughout the 2025–26 season, renowned chamber orchestras will visit Philadelphia for one-night-only performances at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. The groundbreaking Galilee Chamber Orchestra, the first orchestra in Israel to feature equal numbers of Jewish and Arab musicians, will perform Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3 (“Scottish”) and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 9 (“Jenamy”) featuring Bruce Liu, led by the ensemble’s chief conductor, Saleem Ashkar (November 19). Nézet-Séguin will lead one of the world’s most acclaimed chamber ensembles, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, in an all-Brahms performance including the composer’s Tragic Overture, Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Orchestra (“Double”)—featuring violinist Veronika Eberle and cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras—and his Symphony No. 1 (December 10). Nézet-Séguin is a long-time collaborator and honorary member of the ensemble.
CELEBRATED FILM MUSIC
Audiences will have the opportunity to experience beloved films projected in Marian Anderson Hall as the Orchestra performs the scores live. Film concerts include The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, featuring a score by Howard Shore (December 5–7), and Disney’s Fantasia (January 2–4). The Philadelphia Orchestra and Leopold Stokowski made movie history by playing the soundtrack to the innovative animated film Fantasia, originally released in 1940. It has since introduced multiple generations to classical music.
MARIAN ANDERSON ARTISTIC INITIATIVE
The Marian Anderson Artistic Initiative was launched in 2024 to celebrate the legendary contralto, civil rights icon, Philadelphian, and namesake of the home of The Philadelphia Orchestra, through artistic presentations that honor her legacy. The Marian Anderson Artistic Initiative showcases composers and artists who embody Anderson’s passion for increasing inclusivity, diversity, equity, and access in the performing arts, contributing to the advancement of a more representative art form. Works that will be performed in the 2025–26 season as part of the Initiative include William Grant Still’s Wood Notes (October 30–November 2); Terence Blanchard’s Orchestral Suite from Fire Shut Up in My Bones (November 29–30); Julius Eastman’s Symphony No. 2 (January 16–17); Louis Ballard’s Devil’s Promenade (February 5–7); the world premiere of Tyshawn Sorey’s Piano Concerto, written for Aaron Diehl (May 15–16); and the world premiere of Wynton Marsalis’s Symphony No. 5 (“Liberty”) featuring the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (May 28–31).
ADDITIONAL SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
• Gil Shaham returns to perform Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 under the baton of Stéphane Denève, paired with Strauss’s An Alpine Symphony (October 10–11).
• Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 (“Romantic”) paired with Mozart’s Sinfonia concertante, featuring Principal Oboe Philippe Tondre, Principal Clarinet Ricardo Morales, Principal Bassoon Daniel Matsukawa, and Principal Horn Jennifer Montone (October 16–18).
• Emanuel Ax celebrates the 50th anniversary of his debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra on July 14, 1975. He will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with Nézet-Séguin (October 30, November 1–2).
• Following last season’s Opening Night performance, rising star violinist María Dueñas makes her subscription debut performing Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole, led by Nézet-Séguin (November 29–30).
• Dalia Stasevska leads two weeks of programs in January 2026. First, Barber’s Violin Concerto with Augustin Hadelich paired with Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 featuring soprano Joélle Harvey (January 9–11), followed by John Williams’s Tuba Concerto with Principal Tuba Carol Jantsch paired with Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 (“Italian”) (January 16–17).
• Concertmaster David Kim takes center stage to perform Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, led by Rafael Payare (February 5–7).
• Hilary Hahn performs Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2 with conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali (February 12–14).
• Marc-André Hamelin performs Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2, led by Nézet-Séguin (March 12, 14).
• Jane Glover leads Mozart’s Requiem with the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir, paired with Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 (April 10–12).
• Matthias Pintscher leads with his own work Assonanza featuring violinist Leila Josefowicz (April 30–May 2).
• András Schiff returns as both conductor and soloist in classic piano works by Bach and Mozart, along with orchestral pieces by Bartók and Kodály (May 7–9).
CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS WITH YOUR PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA
Beloved holiday traditions will continue, including Handel’s Messiah led by Nézet-Séguin (December 12–14), The Glorious Sound of Christmas led by Enrico Lopez-Yañez (December 18–20), and a festive New Year’s Eve concert led by Anthony Parnther (December 31).
ORCHESTRA AFTER 5
Finding new ways to make classical musical accessible for all has been a long-time practice of The Philadelphia Orchestra, dating back to 1921 when Leopold Stokowski introduced concerts for children, and in 1930 when the Orchestra began performing summer concerts at the Robin Hood Dell in Fairmount Park—initiatives that have continued to the present day with Family Concerts and the Orchestra’s summer residency at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts.
Orchestra After 5, the Orchestra’s popular happy hour series that debuted in 2024, is the latest example of how the ensemble continues to create new entry points for audiences. The inaugural season of the series earned a Best of Philly award from Philadelphia magazine for “Best Classical Outing,” and the Philadelphia Inquirer called it “the freshest happy hour in town.” The series will continue into its third year in the 2025–26 season. Dates and programming will be announced at a later date.
FAMILY PROGRAMMING
The Philadelphia Orchestra is committed to fostering a love of music among the youngest of listeners, offering family-friendly programming throughout the season. Sound All Around, curated for two–six-year-olds, introduces little listeners to individual instruments of the Orchestra in an engaging storytelling performance. Family Concerts are the perfect way to introduce elementary-age children to the full Orchestra experience in Marian Anderson Hall. Young listeners can experience a wide range of programming throughout the season, from holiday celebrations to captivating storytelling concerts that bring the audience on an engaging musical journey.
Sound All Around and Family Concerts are part of the Family Discovery Series. Dates and programming will be announced at a later date.
CELEBRATING AMERICA 250 ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Throughout the 2025–26 season, The Philadelphia Orchestra will celebrate America 250 with performances throughout the United States in Saratoga Springs, NY; Vail, CO; New York, NY; Chapel Hill, NC; Stillwater, OK; Bloomington, IN; Lincoln, NE; Sarasota, FL; Naples, FL; Miami, FL; and Orlando, FL. Details about these performances will be announced at a later date.
SUMMER WITH THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA
The Philadelphia Orchestra will proudly return to its three summer homes for concerts in 2026. Tickets for these residencies will go on sale at a later date.
The Orchestra will delight audiences at its Philadelphia summer home, the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, a leading non-profit organization with a historic legacy of artistic excellence as a world-class entertainment destination presenting renowned performers and a signature concert experience. The Mann’s 22-acre campus is in the heart of Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, surrounded by stunning views of Philadelphia’s skyline. To learn more about special performances under the stars, visit www.manncenter.org.
In July, the Orchestra will perform high atop the Rocky Mountains at the Bravo! Vail Music Festival in Colorado. Hailed as “the most high-profile—and high altitude—mountain music festival in America” by the Times (London), Bravo! Vail is the only festival in North America to host five acclaimed orchestras in a single season. For more information, visit www.bravovail.org.
Built for The Philadelphia Orchestra and New York City Ballet (NYCB) and opened in 1966, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) is the summer home of The Philadelphia Orchestra, NYCB, and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. SPAC is located in Saratoga Springs, New York, a world-class cultural destination with exceptional museums, bookstores, theater, music, and dance across all genres. For more information, visit www.spac.org.
SPECIAL TICKET PROGRAMS
The Young Friends of The Philadelphia Orchestra is a free membership program for anyone ages 21–40. The program brings together passionate arts lovers from across the region, offering a unique opportunity to engage and revel in the magic of classical music. Members receive savings with select tickets starting at $30; opportunities to mingle with other Young Friends, Orchestra musicians, and special guest artists at events and after parties; and access to pre-sales and exclusive offers throughout the season.
The Orchestra’s Student Circle program for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students will also continue. For $30 a year, members get access to $8 tickets for select Marian Anderson Hall concerts and additional opportunities throughout the season. The Student Circle program is funded in part by the Lillian Goldman Trust and an anonymous donor.
The Philadelphia Orchestra offers a limited number of $25 community rush tickets to select performances throughout the season. Digital Community Rush begins online the Wednesday of each performance week.
Discounted rates of up to 20% off single ticket prices are available for groups of 10 or more. Patrons interested in booking group tickets will have access to a personalized experience led by the group sales team, including priority access for seats, access to marketing tools, and world- class experiences to elevate their experience at the Kimmel Center.
2025–26 SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS
Multi-concert subscription packages go on sale on January 31, 2025, at 12:00 PM at philorch.org/2526season or 215.893.1955. Subscribers can enjoy increased flexibility with fee-free exchanges. Single tickets will go on sale in late July.
