WRTI presents a special all-American program on The Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert, this Sunday, July 5 at 1 p.m. on WRTI 90.1, and Monday, July 6 at 7 p.m. on WRTI HD-2. The Philadelphia Orchestra Celebrates America marks the 250th birthday of the United States, with studio and concert recordings from the last half-century.
It has been fully 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, right here in Philadelphia. And for half that time, 125 years, this city has been home to one of America's greatest artistic institutions: The Philadelphia Orchestra. This special program for Independence Day weekend highlights how the Orchestra has expressed the mosaic of heritage and culture that make this country unique, and features music by a kaleidoscope of American composers.
Sifting through the Orchestra’s impressive catalogue of commercial recordings, plus WRTI’s own archive of live performances, revealed real gems that provide a great way to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. Among the highlights is an inspiring Lincoln Portrait by Aaron Copland, recorded 50 years ago as America was celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The composer was on the podium for this 1976 concert at one of its summer homes, New York’s Saratoga Performing Arts Center. The powerful narrator was none other than the legendary contralto Marian Anderson, a Philadelphia native who made history both as an artist and as a civil rights icon. She will ever be remembered for her groundbreaking 1939 recital on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., and has recently become the namesake of the Philadelphia Orchestra’s home at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts: Marian Anderson Hall. Her stirring rendition of excerpts from Abraham Lincoln’s letters and speeches is a must-listen.
The program opens with an “anthem for unity” by contemporary composer Valerie Coleman. Umoja for Orchestra, a festive and joyous work, was commissioned by the Orchestra and is frequently repeated, as in the season-opening 2022 concert performance we’ll hear. At the close is another memorable concert offering in which the Orchestra collaborates with the celebrated jazz pianist Marcus Roberts in Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Both are led by music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
In between are selections by Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein, Jennifer Higdon, Charles Ives, and William Grant Still, conducted by Nézet-Séguin and his predecessors Eugene Ormandy and Christoph Eschenbach. Spend a couple of celebratory hours with WRTI and The Philadelphia Orchestra — it’s the perfect musical offering for America’s 250th!
WRTI PRODUCTION TEAM:
Melinda Whiting: Host
Alex Ariff: Senior Producer
Tyler McClure: Broadcast Engineer
Listen to The Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert broadcasts, every Sunday at 1 p.m. on WRTI 90.1, streaming at WRTI.org, on the WRTI mobile app, and on your favorite smart speaker. Listen again on Mondays at 7 p.m. on WRTI HD-2. Listen for up to two weeks after broadcast on WRTI Replay.
