Some of classical music’s biggest names are passing through Philadelphia in an exciting week that includes the Philadelphia Ballet’s second weekend of The Nutcracker, and The Philadelphia Orchestra’s The Glorious Sounds of Christmas. If you’re looking for a wholesome holiday experience fit for a made-for-TV movie, be sure to join in for WRTI’s very own Silent Night Sing-In on Friday, Dec. 13.
Spotlight: Barbara Hannigan & Bertrand Chamayou — Tuesday, Perelman Theater
Soprano Barbara Hannigan is a rare generational talent whose impact on the classical music world is impossible to overstate. She made her career giving enthralling performances of new and contemporary works, and collaborating directly with some of the most prominent composers of the late-20th and 21st centuries. Hannigan has a knack for introducing more contemporary repertoire to traditional institutions, with critical acclaim; only a few musicians in the world today are trusted with such a difficult task.
She’s taking some time out of her busy schedule for a stop at the Perelman Theater, as part of her tour of the Northeast USA and Canada. The program, featuring the French pianist Bertrand Chamayou, begins with Olivier Messiaen’s song cycle Chants de terre et de ciel, which appears on an album, simply titled Messiaen, that the duo released earlier this year.
Also on the program are works by late-romantic Russian composer Alexander Scriabin, and an experimental piece by American composer John Zorn, with whom Hannigan has worked extensively. As for Chamayou: among other accolades, he was the soloist on Gramophone's 2019 recording of the year, and is the rare talent able to match Hannigan’s adventurous artistry.
Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m., Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 South Broad Street, $30; tickets and information.
The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight 2024 Tour — Tuesday, Miller Theater
“Witness the unexpected union of Classical music and Metal.” This concert of rock music played on orchestral instruments is perhaps too progressive for a more traditional classical music lover, and too soft for hardcore metal fans. But that exact midpoint makes for a unique musical experience that has mesmerized sold-out audiences here and abroad. The show lasts 90 minutes, taking audiences through theatrical covers of some of the greatest hits of rock ‘n’ roll and metal. A vocalist is backed up by a mixed 14-piece ensemble that represents the main sections of an orchestra, sometimes amplified with distortion. Those looking for an experience with some dark energy will not be disappointed: members of the band are dressed up in costumes that include skeleton masks, and the stage is illuminated only by candlelight.
Dec. 10 at 8 p.m., Miller Theater, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 250 South Broad Street, $60-$156; tickets and information.
Yannick’s Holiday Mixtape — Thursday and Friday, Marian Anderson Hall
The Philadelphia Orchestra will perform its annual Glorious Sounds of Christmas concerts on Dec. 14 and 15. This year, they have added an experimental program titled “Yannick’s Holiday Mixtape,” which brings a jazz trio, choir, and vocal soloists in front of our beloved hometown orchestra. They’ll perform some of music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin’s most favorite holiday carols and classics; he’ll also serve as the evening’s host. One could imagine this concert like attending a music listening party in Yannick’s own living room.
Dec. 12 and 13 at 7 p.m., Marian Anderson Hall, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 South Broad Street, $25-$152; tickets and information.
Sheku Kanneh-Mason & Isata Kanneh-Mason — Friday, Perelman Theater
In just the past decade, the Kanneh-Mason family has burst onto the scene with a now globally-recognized dynasty of classical musicians. They rose to fame starting in 2015, when an ensemble of six siblings from the family advanced to the semifinal round of TV show Britain’s Got Talent. Major awards and other accolades have followed, including the moment when cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason performed a solo at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Sheku will be in town with his older sister, pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, with whom he appears with on the highly-regarded 2021 album Muse. This duo gave recitals in Philly in 2022 and 2023, and having them back so frequently is a real treat. This time, they’ll perform some standard cello sonatas by Fauré, Poulenc and Mendelssohn, and a new work by British composer Natalie Klouda. The concert is mostly sold out, but you might be able to snag a ticket if you call PCMS directly.
Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m., Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 South Broad Street, call 215-569-8080 to purchase tickets; more information.
Neapolitan Christmas — Friday through Dec. 15, Various Locations
If you need a break from commercialized and overproduced Christmas music, allow Tempesta di Mare to take you back to the Italian Baroque with Alessandro Scarlatti’s Christmas cantata “O di Bethlemme!” Scarlatti was one of the most important composers from the Neapolitan style of composition, and was famous for his many operas. This cantata is in an operatic style and centered around the nativity of baby Jesus. Back in Scarlatti’s time it would have been performed before a huge feast to celebrate the occasion. The music itself projects all of the drama and sounds that one might assume from such a scene. Soprano Rebecca Myers, who specializes in music from this era, will be joined by a smaller group of musicians from Tempesta di Mare, who perform on historically accurate instruments. The concert is rounded out by instrumental music from other titans of the Neapolitan school: Andrea Falconieri, Francesco Mancini, and Pietro Marchitelli.
Dec. 13 at 7 p.m., Christ Church Christiana, 505 East Buck Road, Wilmington, DE, $35-$45;
Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m., Trinity at 22nd, 2122 Spruce Street, $35-$45;
Dec. 15 at 4 p.m., Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, 8855 Germantown Avenue, $35-$45; tickets and information.
Ariel Quartet & Alisa Weilerstein — Dec. 15, Perelman Theater
Alisa Weilerstein is one of the most prominent cellists of our time, frequently on tour with the world’s greatest orchestras. This week she visits Philly with the Ariel Quartet, playing music you will not usually hear from her. The second half of the concert is a bit more standard, with Franz Schubert’s String Quintet in C Major, which employs two cellists, and is known as one of his masterpieces. However, the first half is anything but standard. Weilerstein will explore the influence of folk music across hundreds of years of classical music — with a purposefully undisclosed repertoire, in order to impart a deeper sense of discovery — while performing solos with string quartet accompaniment. The arrangements were made by the performers, and the goal is to create a dialogue exhibiting the relationship between the two genres. A chance to see Weilerstein take a break from the standard cello concerto repertoire is reason enough to make the trip to this concert, and the extra creative flair will offer long-lasting inspiration.
Dec. 15 at 3 p.m., Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 South Broad Street, $30; tickets and information.
