The Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is one of the preeminent orchestras in the world, renowned for
its distinctive sound, desired for its keen ability to capture the hearts and imaginations
of audiences, and admired for a legacy of imagination and innovation on and off the concert
stage. The orchestra is transforming its rich tradition of achievement, sustaining the
highest level of artistic quality, but also challenging--and exceeding--that level by
creating powerful musical experiences for audiences at home and around the world.
Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin's highly collaborative style, deeply rooted musical
curiosity, and boundless enthusiasm, paired with a fresh approach to orchestral
programming, have been heralded by critics and audiences alike since his inaugural season
in 2012. Under his leadership, the orchestra returned to recording with a celebrated CD of
Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring and Leopold Stokowski transcriptions on the
Deutsche Grammophon label, continuing its history of recording success. The orchestra also
reaches thousands of listeners on the radio with weekly Sunday afternoon broadcasts on
WRTI-FM.
Philadelphia is home, and the orchestra nurtures an important relationship with patrons
who support the main season at the Kimmel Center, and also with those who enjoy the
orchestra's other area performances at the Mann Center, Penn's Landing, and other cultural,
civic, and learning venues. The orchestra maintains a strong commitment to collaborations
with cultural and community organizations on a regional and national level.
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 ensemble annually performs at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy
Center, while also enjoying summer residencies in Saratoga Springs, New York, and Vail,
Colorado.
The Philadelphia Orchestra has a decades-long tradition of presenting learning and
community engagement opportunities for listeners of all ages. The orchestra's recent
initiative, the Fabulous Philadelphians Offstage--Philly Style!, has taken musicians off
the traditional concert stage and into the community, including highly successful Pop-Up
concerts, PlayINs, SingINs, and ConductINs. The orchestra's musicians--in their own
dedicated roles as teachers, coaches, and mentors--serve a key role in growing young
musician talent and a love of classical music, nurturing and celebrating the wealth of
musicianship in the Philadelphia region. For more information, please visit
philorch.org.
Maurizio Benini
After studying composition and orchestral conducting, Italian conductor Maurizio Benini
made his debut at the Teatro Comunale in Bologna with Rossini's Il signor
Bruschino. His debut at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan took place in 1992 with
Rossini's La donna del lago. He is a regular guest at many of the world's most
prestigious opera houses, including La Scala; Opéra de Paris; Vienna State Opera; Royal
Opera House, Covent Garden; Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona; Teatro Real in Madrid;
Metropolitan Opera; Lyric Opera of Chicago; Théâtre du Capitole in Toulouse; Opéra de
Monte-Carlo; and La Fenice in Venice. He frequently performs at the Glyndebourne and
Edinburgh festivals, as well as other prominent international festivals. Mr. Benini was
principal conductor at the Filarmonici del Teatro Comunale di Bologna between 1984 and 1991
and at the Wexford Festival Opera from 1995 to 1997. More recent posts include principal
conductor at the Teatro Municipal de Santiago de Chile and principal guest conductor at the
Teatro di San Carlo in Naples. Tonight marks his Philadelphia Orchestra debut.
Mr. Benini recently conducted Donizetti's Maria Stuarda at the Gran Teatre del
Liceu starring Joyce DiDonato. This spring, he leads Donizetti's Lucia di
Lammermoor at the Metropolitan Opera. Past performance highlights include Rossini's
Le comte Ory and Il barbiere di Siviglia and Donizetti's L'elisir
d'amore at the Met; Verdi's Stiffelio, Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur,
and Catalani's La Wally at Opéra de Monte-Carlo; Puccini's Tosca and
Verdi's Nabucco at the Royal Opera House, Covent Gardern; Lucia di
Lammermoor at the Théâtre du Capitole; Rossini's Il turco in Italia in
Munich; Gounod's Faust at the Hungarian State Opera; and Verdi's Il
trovatore at the Dutch National Opera.
Mr. Benini has made numerous recordings with the Opera Rara label and with Deutsche
Grammophon. Recent discs include Rossini's La Cenerentola on Deutsche Grammophon.
In 2012, music critics in the Spanish press awarded him the title Best Conductor of the
Season for his interpretation of Adriana Lecouvreur staged at the Gran Teatre del
Liceu.