Philadelphia Orchestra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Philadelphia Orchestra |
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| Founded | 1900 |
| Location | Broad and Locust Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Concert hall | Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts |
| Music director | Yannick Nézet-Séguin |
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a famous American symphony orchestra located in Philadelphia. It is known as one of the "Big Five" American orchestras. The orchestra performs many concerts each year at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. This is where they hold their main performances in Marian Anderson Hall.
Before 2001, the orchestra played its concerts at the Academy of Music. They still own the Academy and visit it once a year for special events and concerts for students. During the summer, the Philadelphia Orchestra performs at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts. They also have summer performances at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center and the Bravo! Vail Valley Festival in Vail, Colorado. The orchestra also plays a series of concerts every year at Carnegie Hall. Since its early days, the orchestra has made many recordings for companies like RCA Victor and Columbia Records.
Yannick Nézet-Séguin has been the orchestra's music director since 2012. Ryan Fleur became the president and CEO in April 2025.
Contents
The Orchestra's Journey: A Look at Its History
Early Years and Founding (1900s)
The Philadelphia Orchestra began in 1900. It was founded by Fritz Scheel, who was also its first conductor. The orchestra started with a small group of musicians. In 1904, famous composer Richard Strauss conducted the orchestra as a guest. In 1906, pianist Arthur Rubinstein played with the orchestra for the first time in America. That same year, the orchestra even performed at the White House!
After Scheel's passing in 1907, Karl Pohlig became the music director. He served until 1912.
The Stokowski Era and the "Philadelphia Sound"
Leopold Stokowski became music director in 1912. He helped the orchestra become famous across the country. Stokowski and the orchestra created a special new sound. This sound is still admired today. The orchestra became known for its rich, strong, and skillful playing. Stokowski achieved this with his unique conducting style, sometimes without a baton. He also introduced the seating plan that most orchestras use today. These qualities became known as the "Philadelphia Sound." Stokowski left the orchestra in 1941.
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In 1936, Eugene Ormandy joined the orchestra. He became the sole music director in 1938. Ormandy stayed in this role until 1980. He made many well-known recordings with the orchestra. He also led the orchestra on a historic tour of the People's Republic of China in 1973. This made them the first Western orchestra to visit the country. The tour was very successful, and they have returned many times since.
Later 20th Century Conductors
Riccardo Muti became music director in 1980, following Ormandy. He served until 1992. Muti recorded symphonies by composers like Ludwig van Beethoven and Johannes Brahms.
Wolfgang Sawallisch took over as music director from 1993 to 2003. He made recordings of music by Robert Schumann and Richard Strauss. Sawallisch was named Conductor Laureate in 2003.
21st Century Leadership
In 2003, Christoph Eschenbach became music director. He helped the orchestra start making commercial recordings again. Eschenbach's time as music director ended in 2008.
After Eschenbach, the orchestra searched for a new music director. In February 2007, Charles Dutoit was appointed chief conductor. He served from 2008 to 2012.
Yannick Nézet-Séguin first conducted the orchestra as a guest in December 2008. He became the music director in 2012. His contract has been extended several times. In February 2023, his contract was extended through the 2029–2030 season. His title also changed to music and artistic director. In December 2017, the orchestra ended its relationship with Charles Dutoit and removed his title as conductor laureate.
The orchestra's current concertmaster is David Kim. In 2014, Stéphane Denève was appointed principal guest conductor. Nathalie Stutzmann became the principal guest conductor in December 2020. She was the first female conductor to hold this position in Philadelphia. In January 2024, Marin Alsop was appointed as the next principal guest conductor.
Overcoming Challenges
In 2011, the Philadelphia Orchestra faced financial difficulties. They worked hard to reorganize and became financially stable again in 2012.
In 2016, the orchestra's musicians and management worked together to agree on new contracts. This helped ensure fair pay and supported the orchestra's future growth.
Recent Leadership Changes
In March 2018, Matías Tarnopolsky became the president and chief executive officer. He stood down from his role at the end of 2024. In April 2025, Ryan Fleur was appointed as the new president and CEO.
Orchestra Firsts: Breaking New Ground
The Philadelphia Orchestra has achieved many "firsts" in media.
- It was the first symphony orchestra to make electrical recordings in 1925.
- It was the first orchestra to have a commercially sponsored radio broadcast in 1929.
- It was the first to appear on a television broadcast in 1948.
- The Philadelphia Orchestra was the first American orchestra to make a digital recording of all Beethoven symphonies on compact disc in 1988.
- It was the first major orchestra to offer a live concert online in 1997.
- In 2006, it was the first orchestra to sell music downloads directly from its own website.
In other achievements, the orchestra was the first American orchestra to visit Vietnam in 1999. In 2006, Carol Jantsch became the orchestra's first female principal tuba player.
Special Connection with Rachmaninoff
The orchestra had a special relationship with the composer Sergei Rachmaninoff. This was largely thanks to conductor Leopold Stokowski. Stokowski conducted many of Rachmaninoff's works. He even premiered some of them with the composer playing the piano.
Rachmaninoff also conducted the Philadelphia Orchestra himself. He recorded some of his own pieces with them. He and Eugene Ormandy were also close friends. Rachmaninoff once said that he composed with the sound of the Philadelphia Orchestra in his mind. Ormandy and the orchestra premiered Rachmaninoff's last work, Symphonic Dances, in 1941.
A Role in Global Relations
The Philadelphia Orchestra has played an important part in relations between the U.S. and China. In 1973, it became the first American orchestra to tour the People's Republic of China. They performed in Beijing and Shanghai. The orchestra has returned many times since then.
In November 2023, musicians from the orchestra traveled to China for performances. This visit celebrated 50 years of cultural exchanges. It helped improve relations between the two countries through music. Leaders from both the U.S. and China praised the orchestra's efforts in music diplomacy.
Making Music: The Orchestra's Recordings
The orchestra's first recordings were made in 1917. Leopold Stokowski conducted two of Brahms's Hungarian Dances. The first electrical recordings were made in 1925. Stokowski and the orchestra also recorded the soundtrack for Walt Disney's Fantasia in the late 1930s.
Arturo Toscanini made recordings with the orchestra in the early 1940s. Later, in 1944, the orchestra began recording with Columbia Records. They stayed with Columbia for 23 years. In 1968, Ormandy and the orchestra returned to RCA Victor. They made their first digital recording in 1979. The orchestra has also recorded for other labels like EMI and Teldec.
From 1935 to 1976, the orchestra performed summer concerts as The Robin Hood Dell Orchestra. They released nearly 50 recordings under this name.
In 2005, the orchestra started a new recording partnership with the Finnish label Ondine. They released several recordings that received good reviews.
In 2006, the Philadelphia Orchestra became the first major U.S. orchestra to sell downloads of its performances directly from its website. Later, they partnered with digital distribution companies.
Musicians from the orchestra were also featured in a documentary film called Music from the Inside Out.
The orchestra won a Grammy Award in 2022. This was for their recording of the first and third symphonies by Florence Price.
Music Directors
- Fritz Scheel (1900–1907)
- Karl Pohlig (1908–1912)
- Leopold Stokowski (1912–1938)
- Eugene Ormandy (1936–1980)
- Riccardo Muti (1980–1992)
- Wolfgang Sawallisch (1993–2003)
- Christoph Eschenbach (2003–2008)
- Yannick Nézet-Séguin (2012–present)
Chief Conductors
- Charles Dutoit (2008–2012)
Performance Venues
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Academy of Music, the orchestra's home, 1900–2001.
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Mann Center for the Performing Arts, the orchestra's summer home since 1976.
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Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (opened 2001), Marian Anderson Hall is the orchestra's current home.
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Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, New York, the orchestra's summer residency since the venue first opened in 1966.
See also
In Spanish: Orquesta de Filadelfia para niños
