The Philadelphia Orchestra
Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor
Queen Latifah Special Guest
Angel Blue Soprano
Audra McDonald Vocalist
Marcus Roberts Piano
Join us for this special concert celebrating the newly inaugurated Marian Anderson Hall! Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin commands the stage, leading The Philadelphia Orchestra alongside a constellation of guest stars including GRAMMY Award–winning vocalists Audra McDonald and Angel Blue and the acclaimed jazz pianist Marcus Roberts. These phenomenal performers join GRAMMY®, Emmy®, and Golden Globe® Award–winning and Academy Award®–nominated artist, actor, and producer Queen Latifah, who will host the evening honoring the memory of the great contralto, civil rights icon, and Philadelphian Marian Anderson.
The musical selections are all connected to Marian Anderson, including “My Country, ’Tis of Thee” and a special orchestration of Florence Price’s arrangement of the spiritual “My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord,” both sung by Anderson during the April 9, 1939, concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial after she was denied the opportunity to sing at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC, because of her race.
Our host, special guest Queen Latifah, is the epitome of elegance. Experience the charm and grace of this legendary entertainer as she takes the stage, captivating the audience with her magnetic presence and infectious energy. With her unique blend of humor and sophistication, Queen Latifah will guide us through a night of celebration and empowerment.
Acclaimed for her performances with the great opera houses of the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, the Teatro alla Scala, the Royal Opera House, the Vienna State Opera, and San Francisco Opera, among others, soprano Angel Blue possesses an “alluring, expressive, honeyed” (The New York Times) voice, thrilling audiences with “great arcs of sound” (The Washington Post).
Blessed with “a God-touched voice” (The New York Times), Audra McDonald has won a record six Tony Awards, GRAMMYs for opera and classical recordings, an Emmy, and a host of other awards including the National Medal of the Arts, the United States’s highest honor for artistry. Beloved by fans of Broadway, opera, and classical music, her performances regularly sell out—as was the case in her eagerly anticipated 2023 performance with The Philadelphia Orchestra.
Adding a flourish of jazz to the evening, pianist and composer Marcus Roberts infuses the concert with his signature blend of improvisation, innovation, and rhythmic brilliance. A virtuosic performer whose endlessly inventive improvisations conjure new insights into the classics of the American Songbook, Roberts was hailed by Wynton Marsalis as “a fearsome and fearless player—producing music that will move your mind as well as your body.” From vibrant renditions of jazz standards to original compositions, his electrifying energy will transport listeners to the heart of America’s musical heritage—a fitting grace note to the towering artistic figure that was Marian Anderson.
Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this remarkable event.
Elevate your evening with a Great Stages Gala sponsorship package!
Join The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts as we come together to celebrate the dedication of Marian Anderson Hall at the Great Stages Gala! Sponsorship packages include a celebratory reception, ticket(s) for premier seating at the concert, and an after party. Proceeds from the Great Stages Gala benefit the restoration of the Academy of Music, along with the programs, people, and venues of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts. Sponsorship package prices start at $1,500.
BUY A GALA PACKAGE
Discover more about the historic rededication of Verizon Hall as Marian Anderson Hall.