Amy Beach’s Gaelic returns to Philadelphia after 100-year absence

By Cameron Kelsall, 13 March 2026

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“rarely has the piano in Marian Anderson Hall sounded so rich and enveloping”

Reviewed at Kimmel Center: Marian Anderson Hall, Philadelphia on 12 March 2026

Weber, Der Freischütz: Overture

Liszt, Piano Concerto no. 2 in A major, S 125

Mozart, Piano Sonata no. 16 in C major, K545 (Allegro)

Beach, Symphony in E minor "Gaelic", Op.32

Marc-André Hamelin, Piano

The Philadelphia Orchestra

Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Conductor

Energy, precision and drama from the Philadelphia Orchestra

Susan Stempleski, 31st March

Marin Alsop is joined by pianist Hayato Sumino as she conducts the Philadelphians in an exhilarating program of works by John Adams, Gershwin and Prokofiev.

****1

When we dead awaken: Mahler 2 returns to Philadelphia

Cameron Kelsall, 8th March

Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra deliver a supreme meditation on the power of music and faith.

*****

Hilary Hahn returns to the stage with the Philadelphia Orchestra

Cameron Kelsall, 13th February

After a six-month break to address persistent injuries, the bravura violinist appears in one of her signature pieces: Prokofiev's Violin Concerto no. 1.

***11

Rarities surround Tchaikovsky favorite at the Philadelphia Orchestra

Cameron Kelsall, 6th February

Concertmaster David Kim performs Tchaikovsky's ever-popular Violin Concerto, and conductor Rafael Payare revisits Falla's El amor brujo.

***11

Du Yun's Ears of the Book: a spotlight on the pipa in Philadelphia

Cameron Kelsall, 22nd January

Co-commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra, the concerto highlights Wu Man, a virtuoso player of the Chinese lute.

**111

Eastman and Italy dominate Stasevska's second week in Philadelphia

Cameron Kelsall, 16th January

For the first time ever, the Philadelphia Orchestra perform music by Julius Eastman (1940-1990), a graduate of the nearby Curtis Institute.

****1

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Cameron Kelsall

Cameron Kelsall is a classical music critic and cultural reporter. He has written for Bachtrack since 2019, and his byline has appeared in many national and international classical music publications. Based in Philadelphia, he regularly travels around the United States for musical events. In addition to his career in journalism, Cameron also teaches in the Theatre Arts program at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a certified sommelier and avid home cook. His favorite composer is Mahler. Twitter: @CameronPKelsall.

Amy Beach’s Gaelic returns to the Philadelphia Orchestra after 100-year absence