Nezet-Seguin Returns to Philadelphia Orchestra, 1/6

Following his triumphant appearances in October, Music Director Designate Yannick Nézet-Séguin returns to lead The Philadelphia Orchestra in four thrilling concerts featuring Debussy's Nocturnes and Mozart's Requiem for chorus, soloists, and orchestra (January 6-9, 2011).

Due to an overwhelming demand for tickets for this exciting program, the Orchestra has added a fourth performance on Sunday, January 9, at 2:00 PM. The previously announced performances on January 6, 7, and 8 are SOLD OUT. Tickets for the newly-added January 9 concert will be available for purchase beginning at 10:00 AM on December 14.

In its review of Mr. Nézet-Séguin's October 29 performance with the Orchestra, the Philadelphia Inquirer said "We have in our midst a conductor-his self-effacing thumbs redirecting audience cheers to The Players-who is in the right place at the right time ..."

The January 2011 program opens with Debussy's Nocturnes, a three-movement impressionistic masterpiece for orchestra and female chorus that was originally conceived for solo violin and orchestra. A piece not heard by Philadelphia Orchestra audiences in 20 years, Mozart's Requiem remains one of the most famous works of music ever written. The numerous attempts to complete the score, left unfinished at the composer's early death, have only enhanced its legendary status. These concerts will use the Franz Beyer edition in its first Philadelphia Orchestra performances. Featured soloists in Mozart's Requiem include soprano Lucy Crowe in her Philadelphia Orchestra debut; mezzo-soprano Birgit Remmert; tenor James Taylor in his Philadelphia Orchestra debut; baritone AnDrew Foster-Williams in his Philadelphia Orchestra subscription debut; and the Philadelphia Singers Chorale, under the direction of David Hayes.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin led his first subscription concerts as The Philadelphia Orchestra's music director designate in October 2010 in a program that featured Haydn's "Military" Symphony and Mahler's mighty Fifth Symphony. Announced as the next music director of The Philadelphia Orchestra on June 14, 2010, Mr. Nézet-Séguin made his first official appearances as music director designate four days later as part of a day-long "Welcome" tour of Philadelphia. Through the day, he met with patrons at the Kimmel Center, visited iconic city sites, attended an Orchestra Neighborhood Concert in Upper Darby, and was welcomed by over 45,000 Phillies fans during the seventh-inning stretch at Citizen's Bank Park. The Philadelphia Inquirer called Mr. Nézet-Séguin's appointment "the No. 1 classical music event of the year."

Yannick Nézet-SéguinSince his European conducting debut in 2004, Yannick Nézet-Séguin has become one of the most sought-after conductors on today's international classical music scene, widely praised by audiences, critics, and artists alike for his musicianship, dedication, and charisma. A native of Montreal, he made his Philadelphia Orchestra debut in 2008 and last June was named the Orchestra's next music director, a post he takes up with the 2012-13 season. Artistic director and principal conductor of Montreal's Orchestre Métropolitain since 2000, he became music director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic and principal guest conductor of the London Philharmonic in 2008.
Recent engagements have included concerts with the Vienna and Los Angeles philharmonics, the Boston Symphony, the Dresden Staatskapelle, the Orchestre National de France and, earlier this month, a tour with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and his Berlin Philharmonic debut. This season also includes debuts with the Chicago Symphony, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, the Bayerischer Rundfunk Orchestra, and La Scala; Strauss's Salome for Montreal Opera; Mozart's Don Giovanni with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra in Baden-Baden; and Vienna Philharmonic projects at the 2011 Salzburg, Montreux, and Lucerne festivals. Following his Metropolitan Opera debut last season with Bizet's Carmen, he returned in November/December 2010 for Verdi's Don Carlo. Highlights in 2011-12 include his Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, debut; a third production for Netherlands Opera; appearances in Vienna with both the Rotterdam and Vienna philharmonics; concerts with the Dresden Staatskapelle; and further recordings.

Mr. Nézet-Séguin's Rotterdam Philharmonic recordings for EMI/Virgin comprise an Edison Award-winning disc of works by Ravel, the Beethoven and Korngold violin concertos with Renaud Capuçon, and Fantasy: A Night at the Opera with flutist Emmanuel Pahud. Future releases include Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique and Death of Cleopatra for BIS Records. He has also recorded several award-winning albums with the Orchestre Métropolitain for ATMA Classique.

Mr. Nézet-Séguin studied piano, conducting, composition, and chamber music at Montreal's Conservatoire de Musique and continued his studies with renowned conductors, most notably Carlo Maria Giulini. He also studied choral conducting with Joseph Flummerfelt at Westminster Choir College. Mr. Nézet-Séguin's honors include a Royal Philharmonic Society Award, an Echo Award, the Virginia-Parker Award from the Canada Council, and the National Arts Centre Award.

The Philadelphia Orchestra is among the world's leading orchestras. Renowned for its artistic excellence since its founding in 1900, the Orchestra has excited audiences with thousands of concerts in Philadelphia and around the world.

With only seven music directors throughout more than a century of unswerving orchestral distinction, the artistic heritage of The Philadelphia Orchestra is attributed to extraordinary musicianship under the leadership and innovation of 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). After 30 years of a celebrated association with The Philadelphia Orchestra, Charles Dutoit continues the tradition as chief conductor.

Since Mr. Dutoit's debut with the Orchestra in July 1980 he has led hundreds of concerts in Philadelphia, at Carnegie Hall, and on tour, as artistic director of the Orchestra's summer concerts at the Mann Center, artistic director and principal conductor of the Orchestra's summer residency at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and now as chief conductor. With the 2012-13 season, the Orchestra honors Mr. Dutoit by bestowing upon him the title conductor laureate.
Yannick Nézet-Séguin assumed the title of music director designate in June 2010, immediately joining the Orchestra's leadership team. He takes up the baton as The Philadelphia Orchestra's next music director in 2012.

The Philadelphia Orchestra annually touches the lives of countless music lovers worldwide, through concerts, presentations, and recordings. Each year the Orchestra presents a subscription season at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, education and community partnership programs, and annual appearances at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center; it also regularly tours throughout the world. Its summer schedule includes performances at the Mann Center, free Neighborhood Concerts throughout Greater Philadelphia, 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.

Mozart's RequiemJanuary 6 at 8:00 PM - Thursday evening - Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
January 7 at 2:00 PM - Friday afternoon - Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
January 8 at 8:00 PM - Saturday evening - Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
January 9 at 2:00 PM - Sunday afternoon - Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Orchestra's music director designate, returns to conduct Mozart's Requiem for chorus, soloists, and orchestra. A piece not heard by Philadelphia Orchestra audiences in 20 years, the Requiem remains a magnificent torso and the numerous attempts to complete it have only enhanced its mystique. Hear the final, poignant utterances of one of the greatest musical geniuses ever known.

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