Kimmel Center Presents Announces 2004/2005 Season
March 2, 2004
Lang Lang performing at the 2004/2005 Season Announcement event in Perelman Theater today.
Plus Master Musicians, Dance, Pop Music, Family Events, World Music and Dance Offerings from South America to the Far East And Four World Premieres
Second Season of Citizens Bank Broadway at the Academy Unveiled with Deaf West’s acclaimed Big River and Disney’s all-new On the Record Plus Disney’s The Lion King comes to the Academy of Music in 2006
Russian-themed programming and more of the world’s greatest orchestras, "a year of incredible sax," including a tribute to Philadelphia jazz legend John Coltrane, four world premieres in music and six dance world premieres plus music and dance offerings from around the globe are among the highlights of the 2004-2005 season of Kimmel Center Presents. Leaders of Kimmel Center, Inc. unveiled details of the performing arts center’s fourth season at the Kimmel Center today.
Kimmel Center leaders also announced today that Disney’s The Lion King will be coming to the Academy of Music in 2006. The 2004-2005 season of Kimmel Center Presents Citizens Bank Broadway at the Academy was also unveiled today and will include The King and I, Big River, Disney’s On the Record, Peter Pan, Smokey Joe’s Café and Riverdance. (Please see separate press releases for Broadway details.)
The 2004-2005 Kimmel Center Presents season will feature nearly 70 performances grouped into 10 distinct subscription series. Subscriptions go on sale immediately.
The new season opens with two unique performances that are representative of Kimmel Center Presents’ diversity and artistic breadth. On Friday, September 17, 2004, legendary jazz innovator and composer Ornette Coleman gives a rare performance that kicks off a year-long salute to the saxophone in all its voices; and on Saturday, September 18, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, one of the world’s reigning sopranos, makes her Kimmel Center debut.
Also among the highlights of the new season are performances by Joshua Bell, Yo-Yo Ma, Hélène Grimaud, Sir James Galway, Little Jimmy Scott, Dianne Reeves, Sonny Rollins, Danilo Perez, Dave Brubeck, Marian McPartland, Herbie Hancock, k.d. lang, The Chieftains, Kodo Drummers, Blind Boys of Alabama, Peter, Paul & Mary, Ravi and Anoushka Shankar, Tom Chapin, Urban Tap, Noche Flamenca, Philadanco and the orchestras of St. Petersburg, New York, Oslo, Kirov and Chicago. Artists with Philadelphia connections include Lang Lang, Gary Bartz, McCoy Tyner, Bootsie Barnes, Michael Brecker, Terrell Stafford, Tim Warfield, André Watts, Bobby McFerrin, Jerry Blavat, Ed Simon and Diane Monroe.
Sponsors of the 2004-2005 Kimmel Center Presents season include Mellon Financial Corporation, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Wachovia, Sovereign Bank, Fleet, The American Express Company, Verizon, American Airlines and Bucks County Coffee.
"I am proud to announce that we have yet another stellar season that spans the full spectrum of the performing arts," said Kimmel Center, Inc. President and CEO Janice Price. "By offering a wide range of performances from classical to jazz to world, pop and family events, by offering performances that complement what the resident companies of the Kimmel Center and Academy of Music are already offering, we are taking another step toward fulfilling our mission to make the arts accessible to all."
The new season’s Mellon Jazz Fridays series introduces "a year of incredible sax," featuring the saxophone as soloist (Coleman, Sonny Rollins, James Carter), in ensemble playing (Gary Bartz with the McCoy Tyner Trio and Bootsie Barnes in "Philly All-Star Jazz Night," Michael Brecker with Herbie Hancock) and as the front line in a big band (the Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra and the Count Basie Band) settings.
Other jazz luminaries on the Verizon Hall stage next season include return visits to the Kimmel by Dave Brubeck, this time with fellow pianist Marian McPartland and Dianne Reeves, this time sharing the bill with the magnificent voice of Little Jimmy Scott.
In the Kimmel Center’s intimate Perelman Theater, jazz pianist Danilo Perez, artistic advisor for the current season’s highly successful Mellon Jazz: Dreaming of Dizzy series (dedicated to the works of Dizzy Gillespie), will curate his second series of one-night-only performances. Mellon Jazz Up Close: Take the Col’train will take a journey through the Americas from Argentina to Brazil to Peru and Venezuela to Panama and, finally, home to Philadelphia led by the spirit of adopted son, composer and saxophonist John Coltrane.
Each concert will feature musicians from those countries, a special guest saxophone player, and a post-concert chat from the stage. Artists include Claudio Regazzi, Tim Warfield, Claudio Roditi, Oscar Stagnaro, Mark Turner, Donny McCaslin and Bryan Lynch. The final performance features Coltrane’s son, Ravi, and also will include a world premiere jazz composition, commissioned especially for the evening by the American Composers Forum.
Kimmel Center Presents continues its commitment to bring the world’s greatest orchestras and classical performers to Philadelphia. Next season the Russians are coming to the Kimmel Center—literally. The Kimmel Center Presents Fleet Great Orchestras on Tour series will import both the St. Petersburg Philharmonic (with Yuri Temirkanov conducting and Helene Grimaud on piano) and the Kirov Orchestra (with Valery Gergiev) next season. Both orchestras will feature Russian works, as will the New York Philharmonic (Lorin Maazel conducting).
Completing the series will be André Previn conducting the Oslo Philharmonic (with his wife, Anne-Sophie Mutter, as violin soloist) and a rare Philadelphia conducting engagement by Daniel Barenboim with the Chicago Symphony, who make their first local appearance in 30 years. With the Chicago Symphony performance on May 11, 2005, all of the "Big Five" American orchestras will have performed in Verizon Hall.
Russian themes will also be prevalent in the programs of the three Wachovia Master Musicians series. Next season’s String Series will feature Gil and Orli Shaham (with an all-Prokofiev program), Joshua Bell and Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project; the Piano Series will feature Philadelphia’s Lang Lang, André Watts, and a rare duo piano recital with Martha Argerich and Nelson Freire; and the Vocal Series will bring Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Salvatore Licitra and Dawn Upshaw to the Verizon Hall stage.
The critically acclaimed Fresh Ink series returns next season with all performances in the Perelman Theater. Fresh Ink focuses on 21st century music and provides the audience a chance to meet cutting edge artists, with all performances including a post-concert conversation. Next season’s concerts include a collaboration with Orchestra 2001; three world premieres including one by Philadelphian George Crumb and a second commission by the American Composers Forum for the sextet eighth blackbird; and a genre bending evening of solo cello accompanied by live video.
Movers and Shakers, sponsored by The American Express Company, will bring dance to the Perelman Theater with return engagements by Noche Flamenca and Urban Tap, both employing live musicians on stage. And the continuing success of the Kimmel Center’s resident dance company, Philadanco, means that for the third year in a row, Kimmel Center Presents has added an additional performance to both its fall and spring residencies. Philadanco celebrates its 35th anniversary season next year with all-new programs including six world premieres. All of the dance engagements will include post-performance conversations on opening night and special performances for student groups.
The Family Beat series, including performances by singer-songwriter Tom Chapin, rocker Dan Zanes (former lead singer of the Del Fuegos) and Urban Tap, will also offer special hour-long performances perfect for children.
Rounding out the series offerings is the Sovereign Bank World Pop Mix, featuring such popular entertainers as k.d. lang, Bobby McFerrin, The Chieftains, Peter, Paul & Mary, Ravi and Anoushka Shankar, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Tango Pasion, Kodo Drummers, Vienna Choir Boys and Philadelphia’s Jerry Blavat all in Verizon Hall.
The Perelman Theater hosts two special events: In November, chanteuse Jane Birkin presenting an evening of songs by her late husband Serge Gainsbourg; and in March, as part of the Mellon Jazz offerings, an evening of Walt Whitman poetry set to a jazz score by Fred Hersch and sung by multiple Grammy nominee Kurt Elling.
"I am thrilled to be announcing such a varied line-up of superstars, local icons and fresh faces to our stages," said Kimmel Center, Inc. Vice President of Programming and Education Mervon Mehta. "The Kimmel Center continues to be on the ‘must play’ list of countless artists across all genres of music. As I travel throughout North America and Europe the name ‘Kimmel’ is now known and respected as a venue with knowledgeable and appreciative audiences."
"On behalf of Janice and Mervon and everyone here at the Kimmel Center, I’d like to extend our most heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all of the exceedingly generous sponsors and supporters of Kimmel Center, Inc. and our Kimmel Center Presents programming," said Kimmel Center, Inc. Chairman Daniel J. Whelan. "Special thanks go out to Citizens Bank, Mellon Financial Corporation, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Wachovia, Sovereign Bank, Fleet, The American Express Company, Verizon, American Airlines, Cadillac, the Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Bucks County Coffee. We truly could not be announcing this wonderful season today without you."
The new season was announced this morning at the Kimmel Center and featured performances by saxophonist Gary Bartz, classical pianist Lang Lang, and cast member Michael McElroy from Broadway’s hit musical Big River.
Subscribing is the easiest way to guarantee seats for performances at the Kimmel Center and the Academy of Music during the 2004-2005 season. Subscriptions range from $42-$520. Subscribers save up to 20% off single ticket prices. Additional benefits of subscribing include advance notice of special events and discounts at Center City retailers and restaurants. Subscriptions can be purchased by phone by calling 215-893-1955; online at www.kimmelcenter.org; in person at Ticket Philadelphia at 1420 Locust Street, Suite 320; or by mail addressed to Kimmel Center Presents, c/o Ticket Philadelphia, 1420 Locust Street, Suite 320, 19102. For group sales call 215-790-5883.
Single tickets will go on sale in August.
A limited number of $10 tickets will be available for every Kimmel Center Presents performance. $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.
A limited number of non-subscription concerts will be added to the 2004-2005 offerings and will be announced at a later date. Kimmel Center Presents Free in the Plaza performances will also continue in the 2004-2005 season. Kimmel Center Presents will also be offering a summer series again this year. The 2004 summer concert schedule will be announced in May.
Kimmel Center, Inc., a charitable, not-for-profit organization, owns, manages, supports and maintains The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, which includes Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, Innovation Studio and the Merck Arts Education Center. Kimmel Center, Inc. also manages the Academy of Music, owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association. The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Academy of Music serve as home to eight Resident Company performing arts organizations, including The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ballet, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, American Theater Arts for Youth, PHILADANCO, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and Peter Nero and the Philly Pops®. Kimmel Center, Inc.’s mission also includes arts in education, community outreach and a rich diversity of programming through its Kimmel Center Presents and Citizens Bank Broadway at the Academy series of performances.
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