N E W S R E L E A S E

CONTACT: Katherine Blodgett Vice President, Public Relations and Communications phone: 215.893.1939 e-mail: [email protected]

Kate Johnston Assistant Director, Public Relations FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE phone: 215.893.3136 DATE: August 22, 2011 e-mail: [email protected]

Music Director Designate Yannick Nézet-Séguin steps forward to increase his time with The Philadelphia Orchestra and its audiences

Mr. Nézet-Séguin now leads a fourth subscription week in the 2011-12 season and two additional weeks in the 2012-13 season

(Philadelphia, August 22, 2011)—Music Director Designate Yannick NNéééézetzetzetzet----SSSSééééguinguin has stepped forward volunteering additional time and services to The Philadelphia Orchestra and its audiences in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons. He will now lead his new orchestra in a fourth subscription week in the 2011-12 season (November 10-12) and two more subscription weeks in the 2012-13 season (dates to be announced in early 2012). The addition of these subscription weeks further solidifies the strong partnership already forged between the Orchestra and its music director designate, and helps to meet the high demand for tickets to Mr. Nézet-Séguin’s performances following his four sold-out Philadelphia appearances in January 2011. Mr. Nézet-Séguin was able to find this additional time in the midst of a prestigious season for him, which, in addition to his titled positions at the Rotterdam and London philharmonics, includes concert engagements with the Berlin and Vienna philharmonics, opera productions at the Metropolitan Opera and Covent Garden, and a return to the Dresden Staatskapelle.

“I am eager to spend more time with my new orchestra and with the great Philadelphia audiences who have so warmly welcomed me into their lives,” said Mr. Nézet-Séguin. “As we collectively navigate this important period in the ensemble’s history, I felt that it was imperative for me to volunteer more of my time and energy to the incredible Orchestra and Philadelphia community that I so deeply love. The repertoire that I have chosen for these concerts serves as a wonderful contrast to my other weeks in the season. I hope to see so many Philadelphians in the upcoming months.”

For his additional performances in November 2011, Mr. Nézet-Séguin leads the Orchestra in an Italian- themed program featuring Tchaikovsky’s Francesca da Rimini , Mendelssohn’s “Italian” Symphony, Verdi’s Overture to La forza del destino , and Respighi’s The Pines of Rome . Nicholas McGegan, who was previously

- more - Music Director Designate Yannick Nezet-Seguin increases time with The Philadelphia Orchestra Page 2 announced as the conductor of these performances, has graciously revised his calendar in order to return to The Philadelphia Orchestra in April 2013 with the originally scheduled all-Bach program (Brandenburg Concertos 1-4 and Orchestral Suite No. 3).

“I am deeply appreciative of Nicholas McGegan, who is not only a tremendous artist, but also the most generous of colleagues,” said Mr. Nézet-Séguin.

Mr. Nézet-Séguin delves even further into great repertoire with The Philadelphia Orchestra in his three remaining 2011-12 subscription weeks with his new ensemble. He continues his multi-year exploration of the world’s great requiems with performances of Brahms’s A German Requiem —featuring soprano Dorothea Röschmann (in her Philadelphia Orchestra debut), baritone MatthiasMatthias GoerneGoerne, and the Westminster Symphonic ChoirChoir—paired with Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 (November 3–5). In December, Mr. Nézet-Séguin honors The Philadelphia Orchestra’s storied musical legacy and the 10th anniversary of the Kimmel Center with a program featuring two works premiered by the ensemble—Higdon’s Concerto for Orchestra and Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with pianist Yuja WangWang—alongside Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2 (December 8–11). His January 2012 appearances showcase the depth and range of his considerable musical talents as he leads two masterpieces of contrasting scope—Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, which he conducts from the keyboard, and Mahler’s epic Symphony No. 6 (January 26–27).

Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes the helm as music director of The Philadelphia Orchestra with the 2012-13 season, in which he now leads up to nine weeks of concerts. Details of his inaugural season will be announced in early 2012.

Yannick NézetNézet----SéguinSéguin

Named one of “Tomorrow’s Conducting Icons” by Gramophone magazine, Yannick Nézet-Séguin is 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 in June 2010 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, a tour with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and his Berlin Philharmonic debut. The 2010-11 season also included debuts with 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 in 2009 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.

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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, Fantasy: A Night at the Opera with flutist Emmanuel Pahud, and Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique . Future releases include 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

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 currently continues the artistic heritage and tradition of artistic distinction as chief conductor. Yannick Nézet-Séguin joined the Orchestra’s leadership team as music director designate in June, 2010, and 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 for the Performing Arts, 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.

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YANNICK AND THE GERMAN REQUIEM

November 333 at 8:00 PM – Thursday evening — Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts November 444 at 2:00 PM – Friday afternoon — Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts November 555 at 8:00 PM – Saturday evening — Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

The PhPhiladelphiailadelphia Orchestra Yannick NézetNézet----SéguinSéguin Conductor Dorothea Röschmann Soprano – PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA DEBUT Matthias Goerne Baritone The Westminster Symphonic Choir (Joe Miller, Director)

Mozart Symphony No. 40 Brahms A German Requiem

>>NEW ADDITADDITIONIONION<<<<<<<< YANNICK CONDUCTS PINES OF ROME

November 101010 at 8:00 PM – Thursday evening — Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts November 111111 at 2:00 PM – Friday afternoon — Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts November 121212 at 8:00 PM – Saturday evening — Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

The Philadelphia Orchestra Yannick NézetNézet----SéguinSéguin Conductor

Tchaikovsky Francesca da Rimini Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4 (“Italian”) Verdi Overture to La forza del destino Respighi The Pines of Rome

THE PHILADELPHIA LEGACY

December 888 at 8:00 PM – Thursday evening — Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts December 999 at 2:00 PM – Friday afternoon — Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts December 101010 at 8:00 PM – Saturday evening — Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts December 111111 at 2:00 PM – Sunday afternoon — Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

The Philadelphia Orchestra Yannick NézetNézet----SéguinSéguin Conductor Yuja Wang Piano

Higdon Concerto for Orchestra Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, for piano and orchestra Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 2 (“Little Russian”)

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BACH TO MAHLER

January 262626 at 8:00 PM – Thursday evening — Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts January 272727 at 8:00 PM – Friday evening — Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

The Philadelphia Orchestra Yannick NézetNézet----SéguinSéguin Conductor and Harpsichord

Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 Mahler Symphony No. 6

Mr. Nézet-Séguin’s fourth subscription week is currently on sale as part of one of several season ticket packages, including a Create Your Own Series. Subscriptions for the 2011-12 season can be purchased today by visiting www.philorch.org/2011-12/ or by calling 215.893.1955.

Individual concert tickets for this program and the rest of the 2011-12 season can be purchased beginning September 12 by visiting www.philorch.org or by calling 215.893.1999

Previously purchased tickets for the November 10-12 program will be honored and do not need to be exchanged. Patrons with questions about the program change may call 215.893.1955.

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