Venue: Verizon Hall
Performance Dates: 8-10 April 2016
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Weill’s Symphony no. 2, premiered in 1934 under Bruno Walter, hung around the edges of the twentieth-century repertoire for many years, but in the last few decades it has worked its way into a much more prominent role. No fewer than twelve recordings are available (the first was not made until 1968!), and now it is performed regularly by the world’s leading orchestras. One of them, the Philadelphia Orchestra, offers it with works by Ravel and Gershwin 8-10 April 2016. Music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin (photo at right) has become a formidable advocate of the Symphony, having recorded it with the Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal in 2004. Now he programs it for the first time with the Philadelphia Orchestra, in a program designed to evoke the “jazz-infused thirties.”

This performance follows a rendition by the New York Philharmonic almost exactly two years ago under Jeffrey Kahane, which shows that Weill’s Symphony no. 2, long a dark horse, has emerged fully into the light. Philadelphia concertgoers, don’t miss this opportunity to hear a leading proponent of the work guide a great orchestra in a performance of Weill’s Symphony no. 2. You’ll hear why its reputation continues to grow.

Features

Yannick Nézet-Séguin discusses Weill’s Symphony no. 2 (video)

Learn more about Symphony no. 2