Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

Cecilia Bartoli, Oscar Peterson, and Raffi Help Kick Off Kimmel Center Presents 2002-2003 Season
Classical Superstar, Jazz Legend and Children's Troubadour Launch Kimmel's First Full Season
August 30, 2002


Cecilia Bartoli, mezzo-soprano
The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts kicks off its 2002-2003 season with a star-studded opening weekend on September 28 and 29. The season opener, featuring children's troubadour Raffi, jazz legend Oscar Peterson and acclaimed mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, is just the beginning of a season filled with an outstanding variety of world music and dance, pop music, holiday concerts, family shows and special events on the stages of The Kimmel Center and the Academy of Music.

Bring the kids, because Raffi will warm the hearts of parents and kids alike with songs from his critically acclaimed album Let's Play. A beloved family entertainer for 25 years, Raffi takes the stage at Verizon Hall on Saturday, September 28 at 1pm. Ticket prices are $10, $19 and $27.

Experience the voice heralded by Musical Opinion magazine as "mesmerizing" and "expressive," as the acclaimed Italian mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli performs the works of Vivaldi, Bizet, Monteverdi and more. Truly one of the superstars of classical music, Bartoli will be accompanied by baroque chamber orchestra, Le Musiche Nove Chamber Ensemble, in her Philadelphia recital debut on Sunday, September 29 at 2pm in Verizon Hall. Ticket prices are $25, $33, $46, $64, $84 and $97.

Finishing out The Kimmel's kick off weekend is Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner and jazz legend Oscar Peterson. The Oscar Peterson Quartet features Oscar Peterson on the piano, Ulf Wakenius on guitar, Neils-Henning Ørsted Pederson on bass and Martin Drew on drums. They make a rare Philadelphia appearance on Sunday, September 29 in Verizon Hall at 7:30pm. Ticket prices are $20, $32, $44, $59 and $72.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at www.kimmelcenter.org or at The Kimmel Center box office, open daily from10am to 6pm and later on evenings with performances. For groups of 15 or more, call 215-790-5830.

A limited number of $10 tickets will be available for every Kimmel Center Presents performance. These $10 tickets go on sale the day of the event and can be purchased at The Kimmel Center box office beginning at 5:30pm for evening performances and 11:30am for matinees. Limit one per person.

Verizon Foundation generously underwrites all performances in Verizon Hall. Fleet Bank is the sponsor of Kimmel Center Presents signature concerts. Season sponsors also include American Express, US Airways, BMW, Coca-Cola, Canada Dry and Bucks County Coffee.

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts owns, manages, supports and maintains The Kimmel Center, manages The Academy of Music, and serves as home to nine Resident Companies. These companies include Kimmel Center Presents, a program that offers a rich diversity of choices to complement presentations by the other companies. Activities of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts also include arts-in-education programming provided by the Merck Arts Education Center and free entertainment throughout the year featuring a wide range of local and regional artists.

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