The Philadelphia Orchestra celebrates the 152nd anniversary of the Academy of Music with the annual Anniversary Concert and Ball, on Saturday, January 24, 2009. The Philadelphia Orchestra, led by Christoph Eschenbach, performs. Legendary singer-songwriter James Taylor makes a special guest appearance, performing a selection of his greatest hits with the Orchestra and conductor Charles Floyd.
Violinist Josef Spacek and cellist Camden Shaw, rising talents from the Curtis Institute of Music, will be featured. The evening also features the debut of "The Art and Architecture of the Academy in Sound and Light." The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. The Academy Ball follows at the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue. CIGNA is the lead underwriter of the 152nd Anniversary Concert and Ball.
Concert program
In honor of the recent restoration of the Academy's grand chandelier and the debut of "The Art and Architecture of the Academy in Sound and Light," the Academy of Music 152nd Anniversary Concert will celebrate the theme "Light Up the Night!" with an exciting program emphasizing both classical and popular music. The concert commences with an overture performed by Christoph Eschenbach and The Philadelphia Orchestra. Performances by rising young artists from the Curtis Institute of Music, violinist Josef Spacek and cellist Camden Shaw, with Mr. Eschenbach and the Orchestra represent the wave of the future of classical music. The concert closes with James Taylor and The Philadelphia Orchestra, led by Charles Floyd, performing a selection of Mr. Taylor's songs, continuing the Academy's long history of presenting popular music. The evening also features the debut of "The Art and Architecture of the Academy in Sound and Light," a new presentation highlighting architectural and decorative elements throughout the auditorium, including the ceiling mural, the medallion of Mozart, the gilded statues, and restored chandelier.
The Anniversary Concert is created and produced by Wayne Baruch and Charles F. Gayton, who also produced the spectacular Academy 150th and 151st anniversary concerts.
Dinner and Ball
The gala champagne dinner and ball following the concert take place at the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue. Eight dance orchestras will be located throughout the hotel. CIGNA is the lead underwriter of the 152nd Anniversary Concert and Ball, which is chaired by H. Edward Hanway and Marguerite Lenfest. The Ball is produced by Fred Stein of the Creative Group, Inc.
History of the Academy of Music and the Anniversary Concert and Ball
The region's premier gala benefit, the annual Academy of Music Anniversary Concert and Ball has been held each January for 52 years. It has always been one of the region's most successful fundraisers, with the 150th and 151st anniversaries raising significant funds dedicated to the restoration and preservation of the Academy of Music. Owned by The Philadelphia Orchestra Association, this National Historic Landmark served as the home of The Philadelphia Orchestra for more than a century, from the ensemble's founding in 1900 to the opening of The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in December 2001.
The first Anniversary Concert and Ball took place on January 26, 1957, and celebrated the Centennial Jubilee of the Academy of Music. Chaired by Mr. G. Stockton Strawbridge, with Mrs. Francis Boyer as program book chairman, the event showcased a star-studded line-up in which Eugene Ormandy shared his podium with Danny Kaye. Guest performers included classical artists Marian Anderson, Hilde Gueden, Arthur Rubinstein, and Isaac Stern, and popular singer Dinah Shore. -- www.philorch.org
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