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Orchestra Musicians Take Center Stage In Custom Works

Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Harp Elizabeth Hainen performs as soloist on October 31st and November 1st

The Philadelphia Orchestra is launching a mini festival of new concertos this week. But instead of the typical violin, piano, or cello soloists, the orchestra's principal harp, bassoon, and flute will be out in front, in pieces that, as The Philadelphia Inquirer’s David Patrick Stearns reports, promise to be anything but more of the same.

The Philadelphia Orchestra presents Philadelphia Commissions on October 31, November 1 and 2. Each program is unique. Chinese-born Tan Dun, Iranian-born Behzad Ranjbaran, and Philadelphia-native David Ludwig have written concertos for harp, flute, and bassoon respectively - instruments less-often heard as concerto soloists.