Summer is upon us and there are so many opportunities to get out and hear live, in-person classical and vocal concerts and events in our region! Check out some of what local ensembles and venues have going on.
Already started… but there’s time left!
The Princeton Festival
Dates: Several, until June 25th
Location: Princeton, NJ (various locations)
Tickets & more info at their website
On the opera stage, there's one more performance of Derrick Wang’s Scalia/Ginsburg (6/18), as well as two performances of Britten’s Albert Herring (6/17 and 6/19), all starring singers from the Academy of Vocal Arts. Chamber music, pops, and choral performances are also coming up.
The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia
Dates: June 16 and 18th, June 30, July 2nd
Location: Various
Tickets & more info at their website
The Orchestra in the Garden series presents a concert of Bach and Handel on June 18th at Stoneleigh in Villanova, and then a concert titled Franklin’s Playlist will be at Bartram’s Garden in Philly on June 30th and at Stoneleigh on July 2nd.
The Crossing
Dates: June 25th, July 8th
Location: Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill (also Big Sky, MT and Ventura, CA)
Tickets & more info at their website
The Month of Moderns continues at the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, featuring new works by Chaya Czernowin and Tawnie Olson on June 25th and David Shapiro on July 8th. The choir also has performances this summer in Big Sky, Montana and Ventura, California.
You’ve got a few chances to see them this summer…
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Dates: July 21, 22, and 23
Location: Mann Center for the Performing Arts (also in Vail, CO and Saratoga Springs, NY)
Tickets & more info at their website
WRTI listeners locally and elsewhere alike have opportunities to see the Fabulous Philadelphians this summer. At the Mann Center in Philly on the weekend of July 21st, they’ll be performing their Tchaikovsky Spectacular,they’ll perform a concert with singer Ledisi, and then they’ll live-score Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. (The orchestra will be at the Bravo! Vail music festival in mid-July and Saratoga Springs, NY in late July and August.)
LAHSOW Summer Opera Workshop
Dates: June 26, 27, 28 (Figaro), July 27, 28, 29 (Rusalka)
Location: Academy of Vocal Arts
Free with donation at the door
AVA coach Luke Housner’s LAHSOW Summer Opera Workshop brings local talent together with young professionals from across the country for semi-staged performances of Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro and Dvorak’s Rusalka, sung in Italian and Czech, respectively, with English subtitles, at the Academy of Vocal Arts.
Opera on Tap Philadelphia
Dates: June 25th, TBD
Location: Spellbound Brewing, Mount Holly, NJ; Meyer’s Brewing Company, Fishtown
Details at their Facebook page
Opera on Tap presents performances of arias in nontraditional venues, usually bars, and Philadelphia’s chapter will be performing in breweries around the region this summer, starting with “Hot Girl Summer” at Spellbound Brewing in Mount Holly, NJ on June 25th.
Wanamaker Organ
Dates: Daily, except Sundays
Location: Macy’s, 13th and Market
More information at their website
There aren’t any special performances lined up for the summer (yet), but you can still visit Macy’s on 13th and Market for a daily dose of the Wanamaker Organ (except on Sundays).
Happening only once!
Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra
Date: June 21st
Location: Kimmel Center
RSVP & more info at their website
The LSO will celebrate their 75th anniversary with a free concert at the Kimmel Center on June 21st, and if you’ve been missing Debra Lew Harder in the Philadelphia area, you’ll be glad to know she’ll be the piano soloist for their performance of George Gershwin’s Concerto in F. Works by Mason Bates, Mary D. Watkins, and Igor Stravinsky are also on the program.
New York City Guitar Quartet
Date: June 24th (rescheduled from May 21st)
Where: Christ Church Burial Ground
Tickets & more info at the event page
Rescheduled from a rained out performance back in May, the New York City Guitar Quartet will be at Christ Church Burial Ground on June 24th performing new works by Sebastian Zel, José Sánchez-Verdu, and others.
Dolce Suono Ensemble
Date: June 26th
Where: Trinity Center for Urban Life, 22nd & Spruce
Tickets & more info at their website
On June 26th, Dolce Suono Ensemble presents a concert of many different composers titled Three Shepherds at Trinity Center for Urban Life on 22nd and Spruce Street. This is also a flexible performance—once you buy your ticket, you’ll be able to decide whether to attend in-person or stream the performance online for up to a month.
Philly POPS at the Mann Center, Movies @ The Mann
Date: August 11th
Where: Mann Center for the Performing Arts
Tickets & more info on their website
Watch Star Wars: Return of the Jediwith The Philly POPSplaying Oscar®-winning composer John Williams' iconic musical score live as the film is projected on three giant screens.
Take a look at our NEW Classical Events Calendarfor all the information you need to know about where to hear classical and vocal music in the area—when you’re not listening to it on WRTI, of course!
Whenever you're looking for fun things to do go to wrti.org/calendar.
