What if I told you that for just $25 you could get a season pass to the Philadelphia Orchestra? Well, it's true, because the eZseatU membership program offers college students just that. That’s an amazing deal, considering that a single ticket ranges between $30 and $100 for non–students, depending on the show and seat. "The eZseatU program was started in 2009 to give college students the ability to experience orchestral music live in a really affordable way," said Geoffrey Cohen, Director of Audience Engagement at the Philadelphia Orchestra. The Philadelphia Orchestra is a world–renowned symphony orchestra. In fact, it's one of the “big five” American orchestras, alongside the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Cleveland Orchestra. The Kimmel Center, where the Philadelphia Orchestra is based, is only a 20 to 25 minute SEPTA ride away from Penn’s campus. What’s not to love? If that doesn’t persuade you, here are three performances in February and March that are sure to blow your mind.
Brahms and Central Europe (February 21, 22, and 23)
When Brahms' Third Symphony was performed for the first time, hundreds walked out of the venue. Now, it is regarded as a classic piece. Beethoven was one of Brahms' biggest influences, and it shows from the fast opening tempo to its monumental peaks. Along with Brahms' Symphony No. 3, Janácek’s Taras Bulba and Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 2 will be performed. Janácek based Taras Bulba on Nikolai Gogol’s novel of the same name. In contrast, Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 2 highlights the woodwinds, and particularly the Philadelphia Orchestra’s Principal Clarinet Ricardo Morales.
Mendelssohn and Schubert (March 7, 9, and 10)
Piano prodigy Jan Lisiecki plays Mendelssohn’s striking and dramatic Piano Concerto No. 1. Now 23, Lisiecki first performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra when he was just 18 years old. In this program, Yannick Séguin conducts Haydn’s Overture to L’isola disabitata, Haydn’s tenth opera, whose overture earned him the most recognition. The grand finale is Schubert’s Symphony in C major, Schubert’s last completed symphony, often referred to as “The Great.”
Yannick Séguin Conducts Tchaikovsky (March 14 and 16)
Not only does this performance include Tchaikovsky’s Manfred Symphony, a piece based on the poem “Manfred” by Lord Byron, but it also features organ soloist James McVinnie. McVinnie is an English organist who has collaborated with numerous composers, including Martin Creed, Sufjan Stevens, and Richard Reed Parry from Arcade Fire. He is famous for playing at Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding, and joins the Philharmonic Orchestra in their performance of Nico Muhly’s Organ Concerto, a piece co–commissioned with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
It would be a shame to live in the presence of one of the greatest orchestras in the world and not see a show—or in fact, any number of shows for a total of $25. If you don't want to commit to a season pass, that's also not a problem. Student Rush Tickets are just $8 at the door, and can be purchased at up to 90 minutes before the show as long as you have a student ID. The next time you don’t feel like spending $80 on a Drake concert, head over to the Kimmel Center, and open your music palette to something different!
