Mayor Michael Nutter Announces Philly Orchestra's 2010 FREE Neighborhood Concerts

After wowing international audiences as part of its recent Tour of Asia, The Philadelphia Orchestra returned home to reaffirm its commitment to Philadelphia with the announcement of the 2010 Free Neighborhood Concert Series. Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter joined the Orchestra at a special press conference today to unveil the locations of this summer's three free community performances-Upper Darby Performing Arts Center (Friday, June 18, 7:30 PM), the RiverStage at Penn's Landing (Saturday, July 3, 8:00 PM), and Philadelphia's City Hall (Tuesday, September 21, 7:00 PM). Wachovia, a Wells Fargo Company, continues its commitment to The Philadelphia Orchestra's Neighborhood Concerts as presenting sponsor for the seventh consecutive year. All Neighborhood Concerts are free and open to the public.

"Each citizen of this great community should have the opportunity to experience the music of The Philadelphia Orchestra," said Philadelphia Orchestra President and CEO Allison Vulgamore. "By expanding the concert experience beyond its traditional setting, we are bringing the Orchestra to your neighborhood for a casual summertime treat that you can make your own with family and friends. We are proud to call Philadelphia our home and each year we look forward to bringing our amazing musicians into the community to perform free concerts for longtime supporters and new listeners alike. This year we are excited to work with our community partners at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, and the City of Philadelphia. Once again we are deeply grateful to Wachovia, a Wells Fargo Company, for its dedicated and generous support, through which these Neighborhood Concerts are made possible."

"At Wachovia, we are proud of our long history supporting The Philadelphia Orchestra, one of Philadelphia's world class institutions," said Vince Liuzzi, Wachovia's Regional President for Greater Philadelphia and Delaware. "As presenting sponsor of the Orchestra's Free Neighborhood Concert Series for the seventh year, we are delighted to continue the tradition of bringing the Orchestra's music to thousands of people. The concert series offers a wonderful opportunity for community residents to come together in their own neighborhood to enjoy a live performance by one of the world's great classical music ensembles."

The Philadelphia Orchestra's 2010 Neighborhood Concert Series kicks off with a free concert at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center on Friday, June 18, at 7:30 PM. Led by Philadelphia Orchestra Associate Conductor Rossen Milanov, the program will feature classical favorites sure to excite music lovers of all ages, including Dukas's The Sorcerer's Apprentice and Ravel's Bolero. Located in Drexel Hill, just beyond the Philadelphia city limits, the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center was previously the site of a Philadelphia Orchestra Neighborhood Concert in 2000. Seating is general admission and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 6:30 PM.

"We are very proud that people from many different cultures have made Upper Darby their home," said Upper Darby Performing Arts Center Executive and Artistic Director Harry Dietzler. "Music truly is a common language that brings us all together. What a special honor it is for us to host our own world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra."

On Saturday, July 3, at 8:00 PM, The Philadelphia Orchestra joins the citywide Wawa Welcome America Independence Day celebrations with a free Neighborhood Concert at the RiverStage at the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing. The program, led by the Orchestra's assistant conductor, Danail Rachev, will feature beloved patriotic works. Following the concert there will be an exciting fireworks display, presented by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation. The Orchestra previously performed Neighborhood Concerts at Penn's Landing in 2004 and 2006.

"On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC), as Chair of the Programming Committee, I am proud to welcome The Philadelphia Orchestra to the spectacular new RiverStage on the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing. The addition of this concert to the 2010 Summer Program expresses perfectly the capabilities of this new stage and our ability to bring the performing arts to Penn's Landing and we are thrilled to be able to present a magnificent fireworks show as the perfect finale to this exciting evening," said Diane Dalto Woosnam. "We hope this is just the beginning of new relationships with outstanding cultural organizations, such as The Philadelphia Orchestra, who will work with us to make the arts more accessible to all."

The 2010 Philadelphia Orchestra Neighborhood Concert Series concludes with a return performance at Philadelphia's City Hall on Tuesday, September 21, at 7:00 PM. The performance, which will once again be led by Associate Conductor Rossen Milanov, will take place in Dilworth Plaza on the west side of City Hall. The Orchestra made its City Hall debut with a Neighborhood Concert in September 2008.

"The sounds of a Philadelphia Orchestra concert on a warm summer night is music to all of our ears," said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. "Everyone in the Philadelphia region should take some time to kick back, relax, and experience an amazing performance by this world class musical ensemble."

The Philadelphia Orchestra's Neighborhood Concert Series

The 2010 Neighborhood Concert Series continues The Philadelphia Orchestra's commitment to celebrating the vitality of neighborhoods throughout the Philadelphia region, bringing the Orchestra into communities in a variety of settings, and introducing the world renowned ensemble to new audiences. The Orchestra revived its free Neighborhood Concerts in 2000 as part of its centennial celebrations as a tangible expression of the Orchestra's gratitude to the people of Philadelphia for their 100 years of support. By bringing the gift of music into the communities where people live, the Orchestra has worked to break down perceived barriers that might separate it from many people in the community. The Neighborhood Concerts have continued each year since the centennial and have taken place in Upper Darby, North Philadelphia, Rittenhouse Square, and Northeast Philadelphia in 2000; University City in 2001; Washington Township, NJ, in 2002; South Philadelphia in 2003; Camden, NJ, and Penn's Landing in 2004; Camden and Montgomery County Community College in 2005; Villanova University, Penn's Landing, and Camden in 2006; Chestnut Hill, Camden, and University City in 2007; Camden and at Philadelphia's City Hall in 2008; and Philadelphia University and Deliverance Evangelistic Church in 2009.

Wachovia, a Wells Fargo Company, is proud to present The Philadelphia Orchestra's 2010 Free Neighborhood Concerts. Funding is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Additional funding is provided by the Annenberg Foundation, the Zisman Family Foundation, and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Printing is donated by Swift Mailing Services.

The Philadelphia Orchestra's educational and outreach activities enrich the lives of over 35,000 youngsters and 140,000 adults in the Philadelphia region each year, through a variety of musical encounters, including subscription concerts, Sound All Around (for children ages 3 to 5), Family Concerts (for children ages 6 to 12), School Concerts, a School Partnership Program, Music Educator Workshops, Master Classes, Side-by-Side Rehearsals, Open Rehearsals, the Albert M. Greenfield Student Competition, free Neighborhood Concerts, and collaborations with conservatories and colleges.

About our Partners

Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with $1.2 trillion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 10,000 stores and 12,000 ATMs and the internet (wellsfargo.com and wachovia.com) across North America and internationally.

The Upper Darby Performing Arts Center is owned by the Upper Darby School District and supported by Upper Darby Township and operates as a community arts center that draws more than 60,000 audience members annually from all parts of the Greater Philadelphia region. The Performing Arts Center hosts many professional ensembles each year, including The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Three Irish Tenors, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the Golden Dragons Chinese Acrobats, and a popular annual production of The Nutcracker. In addition the Center produces one of the nation's most successful youth theater programs, Upper Darby Summer Stage, which presents more than 35 performances each summer involving over 700 young people. Upper Darby Summer Stage has made the Performing Arts Center its home since 1976 and over 700 young people every summer have performed in a wide variety of musicals and children's Theater Productions.

Thousands of Upper Darby School District students perform each year as members of the UDHS Band and Choirs, Orchestra, Foundation Galas, elementary school concerts, and other events. In its 30 years of existence the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center has been actively used as a community resource that is unique in Delaware County.

The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC) is a nonprofit corporation organized exclusively for the benefit of the City of Philadelphia and its citizens. DRWC acts as the steward of the Delaware River waterfront to provide a benefit to all of the citizens and visitors of the city.

The fundamental purpose of DRWC is to design, develop, and manage the central Delaware River waterfront in Philadelphia between Oregon and Allegheny Avenues. DRWC intends to transform the central Delaware River waterfront into a vibrant destination location for recreational, cultural, and commercial activities for the residents and visitors of Philadelphia. DRWC will serve as a catalyst for high quality investment in public parks, trails, maritime, residential, retail, hotel, and other improvements that create a vibrant amenity, extending Philadelphia to the River's edge.

DRWC is open, transparent, and accountable in connection with its operations and activities with respect to the waterfront. Through the judicious use of financing, land acquisition, and development capabilities, the Corporation will work cooperatively with city, state, and federal agencies to ensure the realization of the city's vision for the central Delaware River.

 

Founded in 1900, The Philadelphia Orchestra has distinguished itself as one of the leading orchestras in the world through a century of acclaimed performances, historic international tours, best-selling recordings, and its unprecedented record of innovation in recording technologies and outreach. The Orchestra has maintained unity in artistic leadership with only seven music directors throughout its history: Fritz Scheel (1900-07), Carl Pohlig (1907-12), Leopold Stokowski (1912-41), Eugene Ormandy (1936-80), Riccardo Muti (1980-92), Wolfgang Sawallisch (1993-2003), and Christoph Eschenbach (2003-08).

This rich tradition is carried on by Chief Conductor Charles Dutoit. Mr. Dutoit has a long-standing relationship with the Orchestra, having made his debut with the ensemble in 1980. Highlights of his second season include performances of Berlioz's Te Deum and Symphonie fantastique, part of Mr. Dutoit's four-year focus on the works of that composer, and a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Samuel Barber's birthday. During his tenure, Mr. Dutoit will also showcase the music of the Ballets Russes, continuing in the 2009-10 season with performances of Stravinsky's Petrushka and The Rite of Spring.

The Philadelphia Orchestra annually touches the lives of more than one million music lovers worldwide through its performances, publications, recordings, and broadcasts. Each year the Orchestra presents a subscription season in Philadelphia, education and community partnership programs, regular appearances at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, and a three-week tour. Its summer schedule includes performances at Philadelphia's Mann Center for the Performing Arts, free Neighborhood Concerts, and residencies at the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

For more information on The Philadelphia Orchestra, please visit www.philorch.org.

Upper Darby Neighborhood Concert

June 18 at 7:30 PM-Friday evening-Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, 601 North Lansdowne Ave., Drexel Hill, PA

The Philadelphia Orchestra

Rossen Milanov Conductor

Program includes:

Dukas The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Ravel Bolero

This concert is free and open to the public. Seating is general admission-doors open at 6:30 PM. For more information, visit www.philorch.org/neighborhood or call 215.893.1988.

Penn's Landing Neighborhood Concert

July 3 at 8:00 PM-Saturday evening-The RiverStage at the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing, Columbus Boulevard between Market and Walnut Streets, Philadelphia, PA

The Philadelphia Orchestra

Danail Rachev Conductor

This concert is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.philorch.org/neighborhood or call 215.893.1988.

City Hall Neighborhood Concert

September 21 at 7:00 PM-Tuesday evening-Dilworth Plaza, City Hall, Philadelphia, PA

The Philadelphia Orchestra

Rossen Milanov Conductor

This concert is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.philorch.org/neighborhood or call 215.893.1988.

Wachovia, a Wells Fargo Company, is proud to present The Philadelphia Orchestra's 2010 Free Neighborhood Concerts. Funding is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Additional funding is provided by the Annenberg Foundation, the Zisman Family Foundation, and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Printing is donated by Swift Mailing Services.

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