40/40 Project Among Philadelphia Orchestra's 2014-15 Season

Philadelphia Orchestra Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and President and CEO Allison Vulgamore today announce The Philadelphia Orchestra's 2014-15 season, the third for Nézet-Séguin, whose leadership of the venerable and innovative ensemble has garnered acclaim from critics and audiences alike since he took the helm in 2012.

A hallmark of the 2014-15 season is the 40/40 Project, a broadening of the Orchestra's repertoire by presenting 40 works not performed on a Philadelphia Orchestra subscription concert in the last 40 years, in honor of Yannick Nézet-Séguin's 40th birthday and in recognition of requests from the Orchestra's audiences. Other highlights include a month-long "Art of the Pipe Organ" celebration; the culmination of a multi-year requiem exploration with Bernstein's epic MASS; Rachmaninoff's complete symphonies; performances that push the boundaries of the concert experience, including a collaboration with the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre; guest appearances from the world's most revered and critically acclaimed conductors and soloists; and educational Family Concerts and special events. The season's repertoire spans over 300 years, from Buxtehude to a world premiere commission from Nico Muhly and the North American premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage's Piano Concerto. The 2014-15 season also includes the Philadelphians' annual subscription series at Carnegie Hall, an appearance at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), the presentation of China's National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) Orchestra, and a 2015 Tour of Europe.

"My first two seasons as music director of The Philadelphia Orchestra were a time of learning, of getting to know the exceptional musicians of the Orchestra and the audience," says Yannick Nézet-Séguin. "And both were eager to help this process of discovery and to share their expectations and desires for our collaboration. Now, in my third season, we are ready to embark on a journey of musical exploration into some new territory with a variety of repertoire. I am very proud of this third season of mine because it is the most diverse in terms of repertoire. As a whole it makes a journey through the great treasure of music that we want to bring you, week after week, an experience that is a special event."

"Yannick has once again curated an illuminating season, which introduces a special sound partnership with the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ, continues our in-depth musical explorations with further Theater of a Concert presentations, and broadens our repertoire," says Philadelphia Orchestra President and CEO Allison Vulgamore. "In this season we again add to the ranks of Philadelphia artistic partners with whom we're collaborating on exciting and thought-provoking inter-disciplinary projects. Our audiences have multiplied dramatically as we welcome a mix of newcomers and long-time patrons to our concerts-music lovers all. We are exploring something meaningful and powerful together in our music-making, thereby bringing a fresh and exciting musical vibrancy to our home in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center. Thank you for being a part of this journey together."

2014-15 Season Highlights Overview

¨ 40/40 Project: Yannick Nézet-Séguin's 40th birthday provides the context for the 40/40 Project, which will present 40 works not performed on a Philadelphia Orchestra subscription concert in the last 40 years. In response to audience feedback the 40/40 Project will introduce works new to the Orchestra's repertoire, although often by composers familiar to Philadelphia subscription audiences, as well as works of composers of our time, including Jennifer Higdon and Michael Daugherty, among others. The Project also includes the world premiere of a work by Nico Muhly commissioned by The Philadelphia Orchestra and the North American premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage's jazzy and rhythmic Piano Concerto.

¨ Verizon Hall's Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ-the largest mechanical-action concert hall organ in the U.S.-resounds for Art of the Pipe Organ, a month-long celebration featuring three organ virtuosos, three organ concertos, and great organ repertoire including Strauss's Also sprach Zarathustra, Mahler's Symphony No. 2 ("Resurrection"), Janá?ek's Glagolitic Mass, and a new Halloween organ concert that features a virtual performance by the legendary Leopold Stokowski at the keys.

¨ A three-week St. Petersburg Festival in January focuses on the works of Russian masters Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Shostakovich, showcasing the legendary Philadelphia Sound.

¨ Nézet-Séguin leads the Philadelphians in the complete Rachmaninoff symphonies, emphasizing the ensemble's storied relationship with the composer.

¨ The Orchestra's multi-season focus on requiems reaches a pinnacle with the rarely performed Bernstein MASS.

¨ The Orchestra partners with the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre for a special Valentine's Day performance featuring works inspired by the Bard.

¨ The Orchestra continues to expand the boundaries of the concert experience with its "Theater of a Concert" presentations, adding theatrical elements to performances such as a staged version of Bach's St. Matthew Passion, Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf with film, and Bernstein MASS.

¨ Strauss 150: To commemorate the 150th anniversary of this iconic composer's birth, the Orchestra concludes a two-year exploration of his works.

¨ A two-year cycle of Beethoven symphonies reaches its culmination.

¨ Many of the world's most-acclaimed conductors and soloists return as guests including former Music Director Christoph Eschenbach, Valery Gergiev, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Alan Gilbert, Vladimir Jurowski and multi-week visits by Stéphane Dèneve, Gianandrea Noseda, and Bramwell Tovey. Jakub Hr?ša and Susanna Mälkki make their Philadelphia Orchestra debuts and Bramwell Tovey and Paul Goodwin make their subscription debuts.

¨ Many notable soloists make their returns such as Lang Lang, Sarah Chang, André Watts, Gil Shaham, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Emanuel Ax, Lisa Batiashvili, and Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg. A number of musicians, including violinist Alina Ibragimova, mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly, cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras, pianist Jorge Federico Osorio, and soprano Carolyn Sampson make their debuts, while such artists as organist Peter Richard Conte, trumpeter Alison Balsom, violinist Benjamin Beilman, and baritone Shuler Hensley make subscription debuts. Five musicians of The Philadelphia Orchestra appear-Principal Clarinet Ricardo Morales, Principal Horn Jennifer Montone, Concertmaster David Kim (leading a program from his chair), Principal Tuba Carol Jantsch (subscription debut), and Principal Viola Choong-Jin Chang.

¨ Season highlights also include the Orchestra's annual subscription series at Carnegie Hall; an appearance at NJPAC; the presentation of China's National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra; a 2015 tour of Europe; plus holiday programs, education and Family Concerts, and other special events.