Take a trip back with us to the Roaring ’20s as we celebrate the 100-year anniversary of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Pack a picnic and join us for a night of jazz-inspired orchestral works with The Philadelphia Orchestra and Marcus Roberts Trio, conducted by Tristan Rais-Sherman on July 24!

The first part of the evening will celebrate the legacy and work of often-overlooked Black classical music composers. We’ll begin with Adolphus Hailstork’s An American Port of Call, capturing the busy essence of Norfolk, Virginia, Hailstork’s hometown. Then, we’ll hear Florence Price’s Symphony No. 3, which she composed for the Works Progress Administration at the apex of the Great Depression. Following intermission, we’ll be greeted by James P. Johnson’s epic jazz and swing-infused Victory Stride.

For the evening’s climax, we’ll be treated to Rhapsody in Blue, which has thrilled audiences for 100 years with its irresistible rhythms and lush orchestration. This special performance of the Gershwin masterwork features jazz legend Marcus Roberts and his Trio. Roberts has made a lifelong exploration of this work, revealing new treasures in every performance, punctuating the classic with “cascading arpeggios, warm pools of sound and an array of alternate motifs … hypervirtuosic pianism and the trio's rhythmic propulsion” (Chicago Tribune).

Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.com or the Mann's Ticket Office.

Program

Hailstork An American Port of Call

Price Symphony No. 3

Johnson Victory Stride

Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue