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Spotlight: Bernstein and Copland – Friday through Sunday, Marian Anderson Hall
The program’s focus will naturally be on Aaron Copland’s iconic “Appalachian Spring” and Leonard Bernstein’s equally iconic and energetic “Symphonic” version of “West Side Story.”・It’s in “Dance”. But what intrigues me is the work of French-American composer Betsy Joras. Her “Lassus Ricercare” is a “recomposition” of excerpts from the music of Renaissance composer Orlando di Lasso, and it sounds fascinating. Her Piano Concerto bTunes features Nicholas Hodges, a brilliant British pianist who enjoys working with contemporary composers. What an interesting combination of two 20th century American heavyweights and one of France’s most important contemporary composers who deserves to be better known and appreciated.
Oct. 18, 2 p.m., Oct. 19, 8 p.m., Oct. 20, 2 p.m., Kimmel Performing Arts Center, Marian Anderson Hall, 300 South Broad Street, $25-$195. Tickets and information.
Coro Mundi – Sunday, Saint Vincent de Paul Church
Vocal ensemble Coro Mundi returns to the Philadelphia area for the first time in three years to premiere works by young American composer Alex Baco. The focus is on sacred sites, which he describes as “an fervent prayer for the world we live in and share,” and the program also includes music by Palestrina, Edwin Fissinger, Marek Radzinski and Moira Smiley. It will be included.
Oct. 13, 5 p.m., St. Vincent de Paul Church, 109 East Price Street, $25. Tickets and information.
Sousa Band Concert — Sunday, Miller Symphony Hall
The Allentown Band celebrates the 125th anniversary of Allentown’s Miller Symphony Hall. John Philip Sousa and the Sousa Band, known as the Lyric Theater when it was founded in 1900, gave at least four concerts in its early years. The Allentown Band will reenact one of its performances featuring the bandleader’s great-grandson, John Philip Sousa IV.
October 13th, 3pm, Miller Symphony Hall, Allentown, PA, $10-$40. Tickets and information.
Celebrating Women Composers – Monday, Vocal Academy
1807 & Friends is celebrating the music of women composers this season, and this performance features Maria Theresa von Paradis’ Sicilienne alongside works by Brahms, Poulenc and Beethoven. Artistic Director and former Philadelphia Orchestra Assistant Concertmaster Nancy Beam is joined by versatile cellist Thomas Crains and acclaimed pianist Cynthia Lime.
Oct. 14, 7:30 p.m., Academy of Vocal Arts, 1920 Spruce Street, $19. Tickets and information.
charles grove
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Courtesy of the artist
Can You Know the Sound of Forgiveness – Wednesday, Performance Garage
Grammy Award-winning ensemble The Crossing opens its Philadelphia season with a multidisciplinary work centered on the music of visionary Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz. Inspired by James Drake’s painting “Can You Know the Sound of Forgiveness?”, this collaborative performance tells the story from the perspective of “the earth, the land, the soil, the sand.”
Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m., The Performance Garage, 1515 Brandywine Street, sold out. More information.
La Boheme – Friday and Sunday, Towson University Stevens Hall Theater
Opera Baltimore (formerly Baltimore Concert Opera) presents Puccini’s beloved tale of love and loss. Featuring an amazing cast of singers, this production is the perfect way to introduce someone to opera or relive this classic. This production is also enhanced by a series of Zoom lectures, or “Opera Insights,” by resident scholar Dr. Aaron Siegel.
October 18th, 7:30pm and October 20th, 3pm, Towson University’s Stephens Hall Theater, 7900 Stephens Avenue, Towson, MD, $15-$117.15. Tickets and information.
Sphinx Virtuosi – Friday, Perelman Theater
The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society has an impressive lineup opening this weekend with the dynamic chamber ensemble Sphinx Virtuosi. This program celebrates American music, including jazz, bluegrass, soul, and blues, through a classical lens. It will feature percussionist Britton-Rene Collins, winner of the 2020 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition, and repertoire from Joplin, Coleridge-Taylor, and Carreño.
Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m., Perelman Theatre, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 South Broad Street, sold out but join the waiting list by contacting boxoffice@pcmsconcerts.org or calling 215-569-8080 Please join us. More information.
Karim Suleiman and Sean Shibe – Sunday, American Philosophical Association
The PCMS season continues with Grammy Award-winning tenor Karim Suleiman and virtuoso guitarist Sean Shibe collaborating on a program that examines the connections between East and West. The repertoire includes works by Dowland, Monteverdi, and Takemitsu, as well as traditional songs from the Middle East.
Oct. 20, 3 p.m., American Philosophical Society, 427 Chestnut Street, $30. Tickets and information.
