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Porgy and Bess: Marin Alsop celebrates the American melting pot in Philadelphia

By Cameron Kelsall, 06 March 2020
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“Alsop... drew out the various influences of jazz, ragtime, gospel, blues and vaudeville”
Reviewed at Kimmel Center: Marian Anderson Hall, Philadelphia on 6 March 2020
Programme
Frank, Escaramuza
Montgomery, Coincident Dances
Gershwin, Porgy and Bess (Concert performance)
Performers
Marin Alsop, Conductor
Angel Blue, Bess
Lester Lynch, Porgy
Chauncey Packer, Tenor
Kevin Short, Baritone
The Philadelphia Orchestra
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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.  

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Amy Beach’s Gaelic returns to Philadelphia after 100-year absence
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Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra deliver a supreme meditation on the power of music and faith.
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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.
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Rarities surround Tchaikovsky favorite at the Philadelphia Orchestra
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Concertmaster David Kim performs Tchaikovsky's ever-popular Violin Concerto, and conductor Rafael Payare revisits Falla's El amor brujo.
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Read reviews of
Angel BlueChauncey PackerCoincident DancesGabriela Lena FrankGeorge GershwinJessie MontgomeryKevin ShortLester LynchMarin AlsopPorgy and BessThe Philadelphia Orchestra
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Cameron Kelsall
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.