Movies @ the Mann and The Philadelphia Orchestra return for unforgettable performances under the stars; The Philadelphia Orchestra’s Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin makes Mann debut on June 24; Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience Makes Tour Stop in September

 

PHILADELPHIA (May 8, 2019) – When the Mann Center for the Performing Arts opens next month, the venerable outdoor music destination in Fairmount Park will show off $11 million in campus upgrades completed just in time to host a robust season of the classics, blockbuster movies, and the debut of a very special maestro on the Mann’s main stage.

The 2019 Summer Classics begin with a free Memorial Day weekend salute to America’s service men and women by The Philly POPS; shifts into high gear in June and July with the return of the celebrated Philadelphia Orchestra and the Mann debut of Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin; and continues with performances by two additional world-class orchestras, the Reading Symphony Orchestra and The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia.  The acclaimed Movies @ the Mann series, presented by BMW of the Main Line, returns this season featuring Raiders of the Lost Ark In Concert, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ In Concert, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back™ In Concert, and Grease™ with Orchestra.  

Adding a book end on the 2019 season is the critically acclaimed Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience which will make a North American tour stop at the Philadelphia venue on Sept. 12. Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience will relive the greatest musical pieces and footage from all eight seasons in an immersive outdoor concert experience. A multi-million-dollar campus improvement plan also awaits to welcome concert-goers with 4,500 new seats beneath the TD Pavilion at the Mann, new LED video displays flanking the main stage, new lighting, and improved sight lines from the center of the house.

“It’s a new Mann in 2019!  As a well-respected cultural treasure in the city of Philadelphia, we are continually looking for ways to properly maintain and enhance our diverse offerings, and this season our guests are in for an absolute treat. Whether you join us for Broadway’s Best, an incredible movie night under the stars, a picnic on our Great Lawn, or are able to enjoy the long-awaited moment when we welcome The Philadelphia Orchestra’s incomparable Yannick Nézet-Séguin to our stage, the Mann has something for everyone this season,” said Catherine M. Cahill, president and CEO of the Mann. “As a nonprofit, last year we announced a $43.5 million campaign to fund artistic programming, campus upgrades, and a strong financial core for the Mann; we are very close to “crossing the finishing line” towards our campaign goal and are thrilled to be offering a new and improved audience experience this season from new programs to upgraded seats. It truly is a new Mann and we hope our patrons appreciate the carefully thought out improvements we have made.”

A SUMMER SUMMARY

The 2019 Summer Classics kicks off Memorial Day weekend with the fourth annual, free concert by The Philly POPS honoring America’s service men and women. Music Director Todd Ellison will lead The Philly POPS during Comcast NBCUniversal Memorial Salute at the Mann featuring the 65-piece POPS orchestra, internationally-recognized Philly native Justin Hopkins, The Philly POPS Festival Chorus, The Voices of the POPS and local student choirs.

In June and July, The Philadelphia Orchestra returns to its summer home for seven performances, including two evenings that pay tribute to a pair of history’s greatest composers and one night paying homage to America’s voyage to the moon. The concerts include Beethoven's Ninth conducted by The Philadelphia Orchestra’s Yannick Nézet-Séguin making his Mann debut (June 24), A Night of Berlioz conducted by Kensho Watanabe with returning soprano soloist Elena Perroni (July 16), Broadway’s Best led by vocal powerhouses Matt Doyle and Betsy Wolfe as the Orchestra performs hits from Tony Award®-winning musicals including The Book of Mormon, Newsies, The Lion King and Dear Evan Hansen (July 18), Rachmaninoff in the Park with conductor Elim Chan (July 23), Voyage to the Moon: A 50th Anniversary Concert with conductor Gemma New (July 24), and two Movies @ the Mann performances.

The Movies @ the Mann series returns for the sixth consecutive summer, elevating the movie-going experience and celebrating some of film’s most epic franchises.  Four full-length feature films shown on 40-foot screens on stage and on the back of the TD Pavilion at the Mann (for perfect lawn viewing) will be accompanied by an orchestra performing the movie scores live. This season patrons will be treated to Raiders of the Lost Ark In Concert (June 15) with the Reading Symphony Orchestra, the next installment of two fan-favorite series with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ In Concert (July 20) and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back™ In Concert (July 26) both with The Philadelphia Orchestra, and Grease™ with Orchestra (Aug. 15) performed by The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia.

Other not-to-be missed programs that are part of the Summer Classics include: the Mann’s free Young People’s Concert Series performances of Hairspray by Upper Darby High School theater students (May 23), People of Earth (July 8), and Rhythms of the World (Aug. 6), NPR's Peabody Award-winning quiz show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! live at the Mann (June 27), and Classic Albums Live featuring the full-length albums of Led Zeppelin I and II (July 12).

Ending the 2019 season is Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience (Sept. 12) which is sure to provide GOT fans a chance to relive the iconic series one last time.  Composer Ramin Djawadi has reworked and redeveloped the musical and visual elements of the concert to create a brand new live experience that encompasses fan-favorite pieces from the entirety of Game of Thrones. The tour will include new musical arrangements from the series’ 8th and final season such as the “The Night King” theme, Ramin’s epic 9-minute composition that went viral immediately after debuting on the show.

2019 CLASSICS LINE-UP

SATURDAY, MAY 25: The Philly POPS Presents Comcast NBCUniversal Memorial Salute at the Mann (Free Admission/Summer Picnic Series presented by Burke Brothers)

Music Director Todd Ellison will lead The Philly POPS during its fourth annual Comcast NBCUniversal Memorial Salute at the Mann, honoring America’s service men and women. This year’s Memorial Salute features the 65-piece POPS orchestra, the Voices of the POPS, and The Philly POPS Festival Chorus in a stirring line-up of patriotic anthems, Great American Songbook classics and legendary show tunes. Philadelphia native Justin Hopkins will serve as guest vocalist for this annual tradition. In celebration of those who serve, admission to the concert is free.

SATURDAY, JUNE 15: Raiders of the Lost Ark In Concert with the Reading Symphony Orchestra (Summer Picnic Series presented by Burke Brothers)

The film that gave the world one of its greatest movie heroes, Indiana Jones, is back and better than ever before. Relive the journey of Raiders of the Lost Ark while the film plays on a 40-foot screen and two jumbo lawn screens, with John Williams’ epic score performed live to picture by the Reading Symphony Orchestra.

MONDAY, JUNE 24: Beethoven’s Ninth with The Philadelphia Orchestra (Summer Picnic Series presented by Burke Brothers)

Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Music Director of The Philadelphia Orchestra, is making his conducting debut at the Mann. The first half of this momentous evening, co-presented by the Mann and NEWorks Productions, will feature the Philadelphia Community Mass, a concert-theatrical experience inspired by Leonard Bernstein’s MASS and conceived and conducted by Nolan Williams, Jr., the Mann’s Festival Artistic Director. In the second half, Maestro Nézet-Séguin will conduct the "Fabulous Philadelphians” performing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, one of the towering masterworks of classical music.

Performance details:

Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor
Nolan Williams, Jr., conductor 
Michelle Bradley, soprano
Paula Holloway, soprano
Tessika McClendon, soprano
Renée Tatum, mezzo-soprano
Charles Miller, tenor
Kang Wang, tenor
Kidon Choi, baritone

THURSDAY, JUNE 27: NPR Presents Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! in association with WHYY

Wait Wait… Don't Tell Me! is National Public Radio’s Peabody Award-winning comedy news quiz show. Host Peter Sagal leads a rotating panel of comedians, writers, listener contestants, and celebrity guests through a rollicking review of the week’s news. Contestants vie for the most coveted prize in all of public radio: a custom-recorded greeting by any cast member for their voicemail.

FRIDAY, JULY 12: Classic Albums Live – Led Zeppelin I and II

Fifty years ago, on July 12, 1969, Led Zeppelin played in Philadelphia. Fast forward 50 years later and on July 12, 2019, Classic Albums Live will be performing at the Mann, playing both Led Zeppelin I and Led Zeppelin II albums, back to back, note for note, cut for cut. Performing these albums since 2003, Classic Albums Live focuses entirely on the music. This first show at the Mann is going to be an event that brings a sense of nostalgia and community, paying the ultimate respect to both albums.

TUESDAY, JULY 16: A Night of Berlioz with The Philadelphia Orchestra (Summer Picnic Series presented by Burke Brothers)

Berlioz singlehandedly created the Romantic era in music with Symphonie fantastique, a musical journey in which the orchestra tells the emotional story of an artist who falls for a woman at first sight, fantasizes about their life together, and suffers the terrors of the scaffold and a wild Witches’ Sabbath as retribution for killing the one he loved. Soprano Elena Perroni returns for her third appearance at the Mann, performing Berlioz’s Les Nuits d'été for soprano and orchestra.

THURSDAY, JULY 18: Broadway’s Best with The Philadelphia Orchestra (Summer Picnic Series presented by Burke Brothers)

Steven Reineke leads The Philadelphia Orchestra and two of Broadway’s brightest new voices in this hit parade of fresh favorites from some of the latest Tony Award®-winning musicals, including The Book of Mormon, Newsies, The Lion King, and Dear Evan Hansen. Matt Doyle, known for his roles in the Broadway productions of Spring Awakening and War Horse, takes the stage along with vocal powerhouse Betsy Wolfe of Bullets Over Broadway and Waitress. Additional selections from modern Broadway classics round out the evening.

SATURDAY, JULY 20: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ In Concert with The Philadelphia Orchestra (Summer Picnic Series presented by Burke Brothers)

The Harry Potter Film Concert Series returns to the Mann with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ in Concert, the fourth film in the Harry Potter series. This season, Justin Freer will conduct The Philadelphia Orchestra performing Patrick Doyle’s magical score live while the entire film plays in high-definition on a 40-foot screen.

TUESDAY, JULY 23: Rachmaninoff in the Park with The Philadelphia Orchestra (Summer Picnic Series presented by Burke Brothers)

The Rachmaninoff connection to The Philadelphia Orchestra is rich and historic. Rachmaninoff himself recorded all of his piano concertos and made his only recordings as a conductor with the “Fabulous Philadelphians.” Included on this concert are the Vocalise, one of Rachmaninoff’s three recordings with The Philadelphia Orchestra, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, and the Second Symphony, written at the very height of Rachmaninoff’s composing career.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 24: Voyage to the Moon: A 50th Anniversary Concert with The Philadelphia Orchestra (Summer Picnic Series presented by Burke Brothers)

Conductor Gemma New helps the Mann celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing. The program will be filled with popular classical favorites featured in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, the music of John Williams celebrating outer space, a suite from the film Hidden Figures, and much more, including a new work composed especially for this occasion by popular film and TV composer Michael Giacchino.

FRIDAY, JULY 26: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back™ in Concert with The Philadelphia Orchestra (Summer Picnic Series presented by Burke Brothers)

In 2018, the Mann presented Star Wars: A New Hope™, and now, in 2019, fans will be able to experience the scope and grandeur of the second film in the original trilogy, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Since the release of the first Star Wars movie over 40 years ago, the Star Wars saga has had a seismic impact on both cinema and culture, inspiring audiences around the world with its mythic storytelling, captivating characters, and groundbreaking special effects. The Philadelphia Orchestra, under the leadership of conductor Lucas Richman, will perform the iconic musical score composed by the legendary John Williams.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15: Grease™ with Orchestra performed by The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia (Summer Picnic Series presented by Burke Brothers)

Experience the world premiere performance of one of the world’s most popular and enduring musical films, with its unforgettable rock ’n’ roll soundtrack that defined generations, live with orchestra for the first time. Thiago Tiberio will conduct The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia as they perform the full score from Grease, the iconic American musical romantic comedy, to accompany the full-length film shown on three giant screens.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12: Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience Presented by Live Nation

The critically acclaimed Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience will be making a tour stop in Philadelphia. Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience will relive the greatest musical pieces from composer Ramin Djawadi and footage from all eight seasons in an immersive outdoor concert experience. The tour will include new musical arrangements from the series’ 8th and final season such as the “The Night King” theme, Ramin’s epic 9-minute composition that went viral immediately after debuting on the show.

MANN FULL SEASON LINE-UP

For a full list of shows that have been announced to date for summer 2019, and to purchase tickets, visit manncenter.org/events.

May 15   Juice WRLD: Death Race for Love Tour
May 18   Old Dominion’s Make It Sweet Tour
May 23   FREE: Young People’s Concert: Hairspray
May 25   Comcast NBCUniversal Memorial Salute with The Philly POPS
June 1    Roots Picnic 2019 Presented by Live Nation Urban
June 11   The National with Courtney Barnett
June 15   Raiders of the Lost Ark In Concert with the Reading Symphony Orchestra
June 21   Lauren Daigle: Look Up Child World Tour
June 24   Beethoven’s Ninth with The Philadelphia Orchestra
June 27   NPR Presents Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! in association with WHYY
June 29   WDAS Summer Block Party Presented by Live Nation Urban
July 6   Dope Shows Festival
July 8   FREE: Young People’s Concert Series: People of Earth
July 9   Sublime with Rome
July 10   XPN Welcomes Tedeschi Trucks Band: Wheels of Soul 2019
July 12   Classic Albums Live: Led Zeppelin I and II
July 13   Radio 104.5 Presents Sad Summer Festival featuring The Wonder Years & More
July 16   A Night of Berlioz with The Philadelphia Orchestra
July 17   Robyn
July 18   Broadway’s Best with The Philadelphia Orchestra
July 20   Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ In Concert with The Philadelphia Orchestra
July 23   Rachmaninoff in the Park with The Philadelphia Orchestra
July 24   Voyage to the Moon: A 50th Anniversary Concert with The Philadelphia Orchestra
July 26   Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back™ In Concert with The Philadelphia Orchestra
July 27   Nickelodeon’s JoJo Siwa D.R.E.A.M. The Tour
August 2   70’s Soul Jam featuring The Stylistics, The Chi-Lites, Heatwave & More
August 6   FREE: Young People’s Concert Series: Rhythms of the World
August 15  Grease™ with Orchestra performed by The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia
August 17   SiriusXM FLY Presents Hammer’s House Party
August 23   XPN Welcomes Tame Impala
September 4   Vampire Weekend Father of the Bride Tour Presented by Live Nation
September 6    XPN Welcomes Brandi Carlile
September 12   Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience Presented by Live Nation
September 13   Willie Nelson & Blackbird Presents Outlaw Music Festival Presented by Live Nation
September 19   The B-52’s 40th Anniversary Tour
October 4   Maggie Rogers: Heard It In a Past Life 2019 Tour

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About the Mann

As one of the foremost outdoor music centers in the country, the Mann, a leading non-profit organization, has a historical legacy of artistic excellence as a world-class entertainment destination presenting premier artists in association with AEG Presents. Each summer season, renowned symphony orchestras, iconic rock stars and the latest touring artists in indie rock, hip hop, R&B and pop take the stage here. The Mann is the summer home of The Philadelphia Orchestra and has presented critically acclaimed performers in every decade since the 1930s. Located in the heart of Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, the Mann hosts more than 200,000 visitors annually. Signature concert experiences are surrounded by Philadelphia’s stunning skyline and include seats beneath the Mann’s acoustically acclaimed TD Pavilion at the Mann; picnics, blankets and music under the stars on its great lawn; and dining in Crescendo, the venue’s spectacular tented restaurant.  For more information, visit www.manncenter.org.

About The Philadelphia Orchestra

The Philadelphia Orchestra is one of the preeminent orchestras in the world, renowned for its distinctive sound, desired for its keen ability to capture the hearts and imaginations of audiences, and admired for a legacy of innovation in music-making. The Orchestra is inspiring the future and transforming its rich tradition of achievement, sustaining the highest level of artistic quality, but also challenging—and exceeding—that level, by creating powerful musical experiences for audiences at home and around the world. Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin is confirmed to lead The Philadelphia Orchestra at least through the 2025-26 season, an extraordinary and significant long-term commitment. His highly collaborative style, deeply rooted musical curiosity, and boundless enthusiasm, paired with a fresh approach to orchestral programming, have been heralded by critics and audiences alike. The Orchestra’s numerous education initiatives are an important focus of the organization’s offerings, as the ensemble engages audiences beyond the stage and into the community. For more information on The Philadelphia Orchestra, please visit www.philorch.org.

About the Reading Symphony Orchestra

Since 1913, the Reading Symphony Orchestra has been providing uninterrupted access to exceptional classical music to Berks County and beyond. Throughout the past 105 years as one of the nation’s longest continuously operating symphonies, the RSO has been joined by illustrious guest soloists including pianists Yuja Wang and Fabio Bidini, violinist Midori, and guitarist Jason Vieaux. The RSO has flourished under the artistic leadership of Maestros Harry Fahrbach, Walter Pfeiffer, Hans Kindler, Alexander Hilsberg, Louis Vyner, Sidney Rothstein, and its current music director Andrew Constantine. The orchestra currently performs its Classics and Pops series in the historic Santander Performing Arts Center. The RSO continues to be a catalyst for collaborations with other performing arts organizations both locally and regionally.

The RSO’s numerous educational and outreach programs continue to change young people’s lives in the community and offer opportunities for life-long learning. The Reading Symphony Youth Orchestra and Junior Strings programs give talented area music students the opportunity to perform advanced orchestral repertoire with like-minded peers under the guidance of high-caliber artistic staff; the Orchestra Zone program provides free private instrumental music lessons to underserved students in the Reading School District; and the Masterclass series gives community members an opportunity to learn from world class visiting soloists.

About The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia

A founding resident company of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia is a 33-member professional ensemble led by Music Director Dirk Brossé. The Chamber Orchestra, founded in 1964 by Marc Mostovoy, has a well-established reputation for distinguished performances of repertoire from the Baroque period through the twenty-first century. In addition to presenting its own productions, The Chamber Orchestra performs throughout the region by partnering with artists and organizations such as Andrew Lipke, the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Longwood Gardens, and The Morgan Library in New York. The ensemble also championed new music, with a focus on local composers. In total, the organization has commissioned and premiered over seventy new works. The ensemble travels regularly, having toured the United States, Europe, and Israel. For more information, go to www.chamberorchestra.org.

About NEWorks Productions

As one of the country's premier producers of inspirational arts programming, NEWorks Productions partners with leading humanitarian, educational, arts, and renowned institutions to present curatorial festivals, concert productions, special events, and other signature projects that leverage the power of music and the arts for community engagement and social good. Past and present partners include: the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington National Opera, the American Cancer Society, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Georgetown University, Oberlin College, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, the Embassy of India, the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa, the Amalfi Coast Music and Arts Festival, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the world-class Philadelphia Orchestra. www.NEWorksProductions.com.

About The Bowery Presents

The Bowery Presents is the leading New York City-based concert promoter, whose mission is to bring the best artists to cities spanning from Maine to the Gulf Coast, while providing an excellent concert experience for both fans and artists. Since its inception, The Bowery Presents has been a purveyor of true artist development and consistently strives to work with artists like LCD Soundsystem, My Morning Jacket, Mumford & Sons, and Sam Smith to grow from performing in intimate clubs to performing in sold-out arenas.  As a trusted industry tastemaker, The Bowery Presents produces dynamic entertainment experiences at dozens of venues nationally, presenting thousands of shows annually.  For more information visitwww.bowerypresents.com.

 

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