University City District Brings Free Neighborhood Concert to Clark Park to Celebrate 10th Anniversary
THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA TO PLAY FREE CONCERT IN UNIVERSITY CITY’S CLARK PARK
(Philadelphia, PA) – The Philadelphia Orchestra will return to Clark Park, University City’s beloved community greenspace for a free neighborhood concert on July 21 at 7pm. This will be the second concert as part of the Orchestra’s annual Neighborhood Concert series presented by Wachovia. Free and open to the public, the event will be held in the Clark Park “bowl” at 43rd Street and Chester Avenue. This concert is presented in partnership with University City District (UCD), the nonprofit neighborhood business and improvement organization located in University City. UCD and The Philadelphia Orchestra have been working with a team of partners to bring the Orchestra's music to back to the neighborhood. Partners and sponsors include Campus Apartments, Coca-Cola, Friends of Clark Park, Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia CityPaper, Philadelphia Department of Recreation, Philadelphia Inquirer, UCNet, and the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.
Making their first appearance in Clark Park since 2001, The Philadelphia Orchestra has distinguished itself as one of the leading orchestras in the world through a century of acclaimed performances, historic international tours, and best-selling recordings. For this engagement, Conductor Rossen Milanov will lead the Orchestra’s return in a concert featuring Chabrier’s España, Bizet’s Suite No. 2, from Carmen, Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio espagnol, Marquez’s Danzon, Barber’s Suite from Souvenirs, and Ravel’s Bolero.
“UCD is delighted to bring the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra back to Clark Park to kick off the celebration of our 10th anniversary. This spectacular event was remembered with great fondness and excitement by those who experienced it 6 years ago. It will allow many folks, who might not otherwise have the opportunity, to experience the orchestra in a beautiful setting, free of charge,” added Lewis Wendell, Executive Director of University City District.
University City is known as one of Philadelphia's most vibrant and diverse neighborhoods; a hotbed of education, science, medicine and research. A dynamic, close-knit community, University City is home to college students, artists, and families who coexist amid world-class universities, dining, nightlife and cultural offerings. Clark Park, a heavily used 9-acre green space, is an ideal natural amphitheatre for this concert. In addition, the park is home to the Clark Park Farmers’ Market, countless music and arts festivals, youth soccer, and many other neighborhood events throughout the year. It is located in the heart of University City’s Streetcar Suburb and National Register Historic District and serves a racially and socio-economically diverse population of residents, students, University City employees and visitors.
University City District builds effective partnerships to maintain a clean and safe environment and to promote, plan and advocate for University City’s diverse, urban community. University City is the region’s leading community for technology, research, higher education and health care integrated with historic and desirable residential neighborhoods, vibrant commercial and cultural attractions, and strong transportation connections.
Visit www.ucityphila.org for more information.
Founded in 1900, The Philadelphia Orchestra has distinguished itself as one of the leading orchestras in the world through a century of acclaimed performances, historic international tours, best-selling recordings, and its unprecedented record of innovation in recording technologies and outreach. The Orchestra has maintained an unparalleled unity in artistic leadership with only six music directors piloting its first century: Fritz Scheel (1900-07), Carl Pohlig (1907-12), Leopold Stokowski (1912-41), Eugene Ormandy (1936-80), Riccardo Muti (1980-92), and Wolfgang Sawallisch (1993-2003).
This rich tradition is carried on by Christoph Eschenbach, who became music director in 2003. The 2006-07 season, Mr. Eschenbach’s fourth, highlights the music of Mozart and Shostakovich. In January 2007, Mr. Eschenbach led the Orchestra in the Academy of Music 150th Anniversary Concert. During his tenure, Mr. Eschenbach has conducted Beethoven’s nine symphonies paired with music of our time; led a four-week Late Great Works Festival; launched the Orchestra’s first-ever multi-year cycle of Mahler’s complete symphonies; and led tours of Europe, Asia, and Florida and Puerto Rico.
The Philadelphia Orchestra annually touches the lives of more than one million music lovers worldwide through its performances, publications, recordings, and broadcasts. The Orchestra presents a subscription season in Phila¬delphia each year from September to May, in addition to education and community partnership programs, and appears annually at Carnegie Hall. Its summer schedule includes an outdoor series at Phila¬del¬phia’s Mann Center for the Performing Arts, free Neighborhood Concerts, a three-week residency at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in upstate New York, and an annual week-long residency at the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival beginning July 2007. For more information on The Philadelphia Orchestra, please visit www.philorch.org.
Release Date: Friday, July 13th 2007
