The Philadelphia Orchestra
Renowned for its distinctive sound, beloved for its keen ability to capture the hearts and
imaginations of audiences, and admired for an unrivaled legacy of "firsts" in music making,
The Philadelphia Orchestra is one of the preeminent orchestras in the world.
The Philadelphia Orchestra has cultivated an extraordinary history of artistic leaders in
its 112 seasons, including music directors Fritz Scheel, Carl Pohlig, Leopold Stokowski,
Eugene Ormandy, Riccardo Muti, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Christoph Eschenbach, and Charles
Dutoit (who served as chief conductor from 2008 to 2012). With the 2012-2013 season,
Yannick Nézet-Séguin becomes the eighth music director of The Philadelphia Orchestra. Named
music director designate in 2010, Mr. Nézet-Séguin brings a vision that extends beyond
symphonic music into the vivid world of opera and choral music.
Philadelphia is home, and the orchestra nurtures an important relationship not only with
patrons who support the main season at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, but also
those who enjoy the orchestra's other area performances at the Mann Center, Penn's Landing,
and other venues. The Philadelphia Orchestra Association also continues to own the Academy
of Music-a National Historic Landmark.
Through concerts, tours, residencies, presentations, and recordings, the orchestra is a
global ambassador for Philadelphia and for the United States. Having been the first
American orchestra to perform in China, in 1973 at the request of President Nixon, today
The Philadelphia Orchestra boasts a new partnership with the National Centre for the
Performing Arts in Beijing. The orchestra annually performs at Carnegie Hall and the
Kennedy Center, while also enjoying a three-week residency in Saratoga Springs, NY, and a
strong partnership with the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival.
The ensemble maintains an important Philadelphia tradition of presenting educational
programs for students of all ages. Today, the orchestra executes myriad education and
community partnership programs that serve nearly 50,000 annually, including its
Neighborhood Concert Series, Sound All Around and Family Concerts, and eZseatU.
In February 2013, the orchestra announced a recording project with Deutsche Grammophon, in
which Yannick and the ensemble will record Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring. Visit
philorch.org for more information.
Sir Simon Rattle
Sir Simon Rattle made his Philadelphia Orchestra debut in 1993, conducting Mahler's
Symphony No. 9, and has been a familiar presence on the podium with the Philadelphians ever
since. He has been chief conductor and artistic director of the Berliner Philharmoniker
since 2002. From 1980 to 1998, he was principal conductor and artistic adviser, then music
director, of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, recording and touring extensively
with the ensemble. Recent season highlights have included projects with the Vienna
Philharmonic Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of
Enlightenment, Metropolitan Opera, Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, and the Royal Opera,
Covent Garden.
An exclusive EMI artist for many years, Mr. Rattle has made more than 70 recordings for the
label, which have received numerous international awards. Recent releases with the Berliner
Philharmoniker include Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring and Bizet's
Carmen. Other recordings include Brahms's Requiem, which won a Grammy Award in
2008 for Best Choral Performance; Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms, which won the
2009 Grammy for Best Choral Performance; Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique; Mahler's
Second and Ninth symphonies; and Bruckner's Symphony No. 9.
Withthe Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, he has recorded the complete Beethoven symphonies
and piano concertos with Alfred Brendel.
Born in Liverpool, Mr. Rattle studied at the Royal Academy of Music. He was knighted in
1994 by the Queen of England and has received many other distinctions in recognition of his
artistic activities. Since taking up his appointment with the Berliner Philharmoniker, he
has broken new ground with the educational program Zukunft@Bphil. He and the Philharmoniker
were appointed international UNICEF Ambassadors, the first time the honor has been
conferred on an artistic ensemble. In 2013, Mr. Rattle and the Philharmoniker begin a
residency at the Baden-Baden Easter Festival, performing Mozart's The Magic Flute
and a series of concerts. Highlights of upcoming seasons include opera performances in
Vienna, Berlin, and London, and at the Salzburg Festival; extensive touring with the
Berliner Philharmoniker; and projects with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment,
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and The Philadelphia Orchestra.