Overview
Stéphane Denève - Conductor
David Kim - Violin
Didi Balle - Playwright and Director

PROGRAM
Palestrina/orch. Stokowski - "Adoramus te Christe"
Chausson - Poème, for violin and orchestra
Debussy/orch. Stokowski - "The Sunken Cathedral," from Preludes
INTERMISSION -
Debussy - La Mer

Principal Guest Conductor Stéphane Denève leads two weeks of concerts inspired by the glorious art of the Barnes Foundation.

The Festival will include a panel discussion on the impact of Barnes and Stokowski on the American art scene, chamber performances of contemporary repertoire, composer workshops, and fully-scripted vignettes entitled “The Artful Titans” during the Orchestra performances written and directed by Didi Balle and based on the text of letters between Albert Barnes and Leopold Stokowski, as well as historical accounts of their interactions. Barnes and Stokowski were both importing the best of European culture into Philadelphia in the 1930s, with a shared desire to make that culture accessible to the public. They debated art and music in a series of letters; Stokowski even spoke at the dedication of the original Barnes Foundation building in Merion.

This first program features two Stokowski orchestrations: “Adoramus te Christe” by Palestrina (a composer Barnes felt affinity for) and Debussy's “The Sunken Cathedral.” Concertmaster David Kim solos in Chausson's elegant Poème, and Debussy's La Mer paints an indelible picture of the sea.

Additional details about festival events surrounding both concert weekends will be unveiled later in August.


Verizon Hall
Kimmel Center

300 S Broad St

Philadelphia, PA 19102

All artists, programs and prices subject to change.