27 Season 2017-2018 Friday, March 16, at 8:00 Saturday, March 17, at 8:00 The Philadelphia Orchestra Sunday, March 18, at 2:00 Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor Jean-Yves Thibaudet Piano Bernstein Symphony No. 2 for Piano and Orchestra (“The Age of Anxiety”) (after W.H. Auden) Part I: a. The Prologue— b. The Seven Ages (Variations 1-7)— c. The Seven Stages (Variations 8-14) Part II: a. The Dirge— b. The Masque— c. The Epilogue Intermission Schumann Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120 I. Ziemlich langsam—Lebhaft— II. Romanze: Ziemlich langsam— III. Scherzo: Lebhaft— IV. Langsam—Lebhaft—Schneller—Presto Strauss Don Juan, Op. 20 This program runs approximately 1 hour, 55 minutes. The Bernstein Centennial Celebration in its entirety is made possible in part by the generous support of the Presser Foundation. Philadelphia Orchestra concerts are broadcast on WRTI 90.1 FM on Sunday afternoons at 1 PM, and are repeated on Monday evenings at 7 PM on WRTI HD 2. Visit www.wrti.org to listen live or for more details. 28 Please join us following the March 16 and 17 concerts for a free Organ Postlude with Peter Richard Conte. Schumann from Six Studies in Canonic Form, Op. 56: No. 4 in D-flat major No. 3 in F minor R. Strauss/transcr. Conte “Moonlight Music,” from Capriccio, Op. 85 Sullivan/transcr. Conte Overture to The Yeoman of the Guard Lemare Andantino No. 2 in D-flat major Please join us following the March 18 concert for a free Chamber Postlude featuring members of The Philadelphia Orchestra and special guest Pierre Tourville. Brahms String Sextet No. 1 in B-flat major, Op. 18 I. Allegro ma non troppo II. Andante, ma moderato III. Scherzo (Allegro molto)—Trio (Animato)— Scherzo da capo senza replica—Coda (Più animato) IV. Rondo: Poco allegretto e grazioso David Kim Violin Juliette Kang Violin Choong-Jin Chang Viola Pierre Tourville Viola Hai-Ye Ni Cello Priscilla Lee Cello The Organ Postludes are part of the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ Experience, supported through a generous grant from the Wyncote Foundation. 29 The Philadelphia Orchestra Jessica Griffin The Philadelphia Orchestra Philadelphia is home and impact through Research. is one of the preeminent the Orchestra continues The Orchestra’s award- orchestras in the world, to discover new and winning Collaborative renowned for its distinctive inventive ways to nurture Learning programs engage sound, desired for its its relationship with its over 50,000 students, keen ability to capture the loyal patrons at its home families, and community hearts and imaginations of in the Kimmel Center, members through programs audiences, and admired for and also with those who such as PlayINs, side-by- a legacy of imagination and enjoy the Orchestra’s area sides, PopUP concerts, innovation on and off the performances at the Mann free Neighborhood concert stage. The Orchestra Center, Penn’s Landing, Concerts, School Concerts, is inspiring the future and and other cultural, civic, and residency work in transforming its rich tradition and learning venues. The Philadelphia and abroad. of achievement, sustaining Orchestra maintains a strong Through concerts, tours, the highest level of artistic commitment to collaborations residencies, presentations, quality, but also challenging— with cultural and community and recordings, The and exceeding—that level, organizations on a regional Philadelphia Orchestra is and national level, all of which by creating powerful musical a global ambassador for create greater access and experiences for audiences at Philadelphia and for the engagement with classical home and around the world. US. Having been the first music as an art form. American orchestra to Music Director Yannick The Philadelphia Orchestra perform in China, in 1973 Nézet-Séguin’s connection serves as a catalyst for at the request of President to the Orchestra’s musicians cultural activity across Nixon, the ensemble today has been praised by Philadelphia’s many boasts a new partnership with both concertgoers and communities, building an Beijing’s National Centre for critics since his inaugural offstage presence as strong the Performing Arts and the season in 2012. Under his as its onstage one. With Shanghai Oriental Art Centre, leadership the Orchestra Nézet-Séguin, a dedicated and in 2017 will be the first- returned to recording, with body of musicians, and one ever Western orchestra to two celebrated CDs on of the nation’s richest arts appear in Mongolia. The the prestigious Deutsche ecosystems, the Orchestra Orchestra annually performs Grammophon label, has launched its HEAR at Carnegie Hall while also continuing its history of initiative, a portfolio of enjoying summer residencies recording success. The integrated initiatives that in Saratoga Springs, NY, and Orchestra also reaches promotes Health, champions Vail, CO. For more information thousands of listeners on the music Education, eliminates on The Philadelphia radio with weekly broadcasts barriers to Accessing the Orchestra, please visit on WRTI-FM and SiriusXM. orchestra, and maximizes www.philorch.org. 4 Music Director Chris Lee Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin is now confirmed to lead The Philadelphia Orchestra through the 2025-26 season, an extraordinary and significant long-term commitment. Additionally, he becomes the third music director of the Metropolitan Opera beginning with the 2018-19 season; he is currently music director designate. Yannick, who holds the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Chair, is an inspired leader of The Philadelphia Orchestra. His intensely 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. The New York Times has called him “phenomenal,” adding that under his baton, “the ensemble, famous for its glowing strings and homogenous richness, has never sounded better.” Yannick has established himself as a musical leader of the highest caliber and one of the most thrilling talents of his generation. He is in his 10th and final season as music director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic, and he has been artistic director and principal conductor of Montreal’s Orchestre Métropolitain since 2000. In summer 2017 he became an honorary member of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. He was also principal guest conductor of the London Philharmonic from 2008 to 2014. He has made wildly successful appearances with the world’s most revered ensembles and has conducted critically acclaimed performances at many of the leading opera houses. Yannick and Deutsche Grammophon (DG) enjoy a long-term collaboration. Under his leadership The Philadelphia Orchestra returned to recording with three CDs on that label. He continues fruitful recording relationships with the Rotterdam Philharmonic on DG, EMI Classics, and BIS Records; the London Philharmonic for the LPO label; and the Orchestre Métropolitain for ATMA Classique. In Yannick’s inaugural season The Philadelphia Orchestra returned to the radio airwaves, with weekly Sunday afternoon broadcasts on WRTI- FM. A native of Montreal, Yannick studied piano, conducting, composition, and chamber music at Montreal’s Conservatory of Music and continued his studies with renowned conductor Carlo Maria Giulini; he also studied choral conducting with Joseph Flummerfelt at Westminster Choir College. Among Yannick’s honors are a appointment as Companion of the Order of Canada; Musical America’s 2016 Artist of the Year; Canada’s National Arts Centre Award; the Prix Denise-Pelletier; and honorary doctorates from the University of Quebec in Montreal, the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, and Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, NJ. To read Yannick’s full bio, please visit philorch.org/conductor. 30 31 Soloist Eric Dahan Pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet has performed around the world for more than 30 years and recorded more than 50 albums. He plays a range of solo, chamber, and orchestral works and from the very start of his career has delighted in performing music beyond the standard repertoire. His profound professional friendships crisscross the globe and have led to spontaneous and fruitful collaborations in film, fashion, and visual art. His long history with The Philadelphia Orchestra began in 1990 when he made his debut at the Mann Center; he has appeared with the Philadelphians as a guest soloist almost every year since. This season takes Mr. Thibaudet to 14 countries including extensive concerts in Asia with the Singapore, NHK, and Guangzhou symphonies, and the Malaysian, Hong Kong, and China philharmonics. As artist in residence at the Boston Symphony, his performances include Bernstein’s “The Age of Anxiety,” both in Boston and at Carnegie Hall. He is considered one of the premier interpreters of this work, which he also performs with The Philadelphia Orchestra on tour in Germany, Austria, and Israel in celebration of Bernstein’s centennial season. Also in 2017-18 the Colburn School in Los Angeles has extended Mr. Thibaudet’s artist residency an additional three years and announced the Jean-Yves Thibaudet Scholarships for Music Academy students. Mr. Thibaudet’s recordings have won numerous awards, including two Grammy nominations, the German Record Critics’ Award, the Diapason d’Or, the Choc du Monde de la Musique, and the Edison Prize, as well as Gramophone and Echo awards. He was the soloist on the Oscar- winning soundtrack for the filmAtonement in 2007, and for the filmsPride and Prejudice, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, and Wakefield. In 2010 the Hollywood Bowl honored Mr. Thibaudet for his musical achievements by inducting him into its Hall of Fame. Previously a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, he was awarded the title “Officier” by the French Ministry of Culture in 2012. Known for his style on- and offstage, he has also made a mark in fashion with a concert wardrobe by celebrated London designer Vivienne Westwood. 32 Framing the Program The Philadelphia Orchestra continues its celebration of Parallel Events Leonard Bernstein’s centennial with his Symphony No.