It's a concert series the Orchestra has dubbed a Grand Tour. The guest conductor is Italian. The musical pieces are from his native Italy as well as Scotland and Russia.
The whirlwind tour begins in Italy with one of Rossini's most famous works.
From there it's off to Russia and Prokofiev's Violin Concerto. First Associate Concertmaster Juliette Kang is the featured soloist.
"It's incredibly lyrical. The second movement is a really wild romp so it's fast and brusque and furious but the whole effect, I think, of the piece, which starts really soft to begin with and ends off in the ethereal distance, is just pure magic. It's exotic and very dream like," said Kang.
The journey ends with a sojourn to Scotland with Mendelssohn's Scottish Symphony.
"Although he was German, it's called the Scottish Symphony. It uses Scottish tunes and some of the Scottish dances," added Kang.
It's his take on Scottish themes and it's just pure Mendelssohn. It's a beautiful, extremely lyrical work.
Italian Maestro Gianandrea Noseda will conduct the series.
Kang says, "He's a great conductor and we instantly made a great connection between the orchestra and him. He's so energetic, just full of fire and incredibly humorous too."
The Orchestra embarks on its Grand Tour March 16th. Visit The Philadelphia Orchestra for tickets and scheduling.