As a new season quickly approaches on the Kimmel Cultural Campus, we are excitedly preparing to bring the best in classical music, Broadway, comedy shows, jazz performances, rock, and more to our stages! If you are looking to plan a night out at the theater though, all these choices can feel a bit… overwhelming. But never fret! We asked our friends, Assistant Principal Cello Yumi Kendall and violist Marvin Moon, from The Philadelphia Orchestra, for a few recommendations to put you on the right path to an entertaining night out at a live performance. Read on to learn more about each musician and what they are most excited to see during this new arts season in Philadelphia!
Les Misérables - Academy of Music - November 2 – 13, 2022
As Broadway’s home in Philadelphia, it is not surprising that a beloved musical theater classic tops both Marvin’s and Yumi’s list. Both are looking forward to seeing Les Misérableswhen it returns to the Academy of Music this fall, November 2 – 13.
MARVIN: “It is my wife’s favorite musical, and we are so excited to see it back in Philly.”
YUMI: “I still haven't seen this, and having read the book in high school, it's beyond overdue! A classic. Plus, several seasons ago, Hugh Jackman (who starred in the 2012 film adaptation) joined us Philadelphians onstage for the Academy Ball, and he was a huge hit. So, full circle, I need to see this. I hope you will too!”
Alongside Les Misérables, our Broadway season features seven Philadelphia premieres of new musicals like SIX, Beetlejuice, Moulin Rouge The Musical, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, and the highly-anticipated gender-inclusive revival of 1776; not to mention the return of many Philadelphia favorites like Annie, Come From Away, and The Lion King. Subscriptions for the entire Broadway series are on sale now, with single tickets for each show going on sale a few months out from each performance.
Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis and special guest Naseer Shamma - Academy of Music - January 2, 2023
Did you know that the Kimmel Cultural Campus presents a full Jazz Series every year featuring the best and brightest stars of the Jazz world? Yumi is particularly excited about one friend of the Philadelphia Orchestra – acclaimed trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis – who brings Jazz at Lincoln Center to the Academy of Music on January 22 with special guest Naseer Shamma.
YUMI: “Wynton. Need I say more? When he was nestled in our Philly orchestra brass section several years ago during a rehearsal of one of his pieces, he picked up his trumpet to demonstrate and blew us all away. Just an absolutely brilliant musician and composer. Don't miss it!!”
As a go-to destination for Jazz, we are proud to offer Philadelphia the chance to see some great performances on stage. Other highlights of our Jazz series include American Patchwork Quartet, vocalist Gregory Porter, the return of the Monterey Jazz Festival On Tour, and the internationally loved Pink Martini playing alongside The Philadelphia Orchestra featuring China Forbes. Save money with a subscription package of at least 3 shows, or grab tickets to just one show today!
The Philadelphia Orchestra - 2022-23 Season TRANSFORM
Of course, the musicians are very excited for their own performances with The Philadelphia Orchestra! Led by Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Your Orchestra is ready for another season of breathtaking classical music concertos and symphonic masterworks, world-renowned soloists with unparalleled virtuosity, and transcendent new and reimagined works that point to the future.
YUMI: “A Modern Carmen Fantasy in Verizon Hall in March 2023 – I am so excited about this program! First, it's with our career-soaring former Assistant conductor Kensho Watanabe, so catch him while you can. Second, this program features Philly's own Brian Sander's Junk, a brilliant roster of dance and physical theater creative athletes who will join us musicians in this innovative program. Other than preparing my part, I have no idea what to expect, except that it will be good, and that's the fun of it!!”
MARVIN: “Definitely the celebration of Rachmaninoff’s 150th birthday featuring Yuja Wang! Sergei Rachmaninoff had such a rich relationship with the Orchestra and having the opportunity to honor him and some of his most beloved works, while having one of the most dynamic pianists on the planet in Yuja performing the concertos, it’s just going to be an epic party!”
With a wide array of programming including the Grammy Award-winning music of Florence Price, concerts alongside cherished films, holiday performances, and more – there is a lot to look forward to in the Orchestra’s 2022-23 season! Subscriptions for the full season are on sale now! To sweeten the package, subscribers will also have the first chance to reserve seats for the Opening Night Celebration featuring Lang Lang and BalletX and a Beethoven recital with world-renowned musicians Emanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos, and Yo-Yo Ma.
Nigella Lawson - Miller Theater - November 10, 2022
Maybe a music or theatrical performance isn’t what you are looking for, but you love a good speaker or comedy show– well, we have it all on our Cultural Campus. These performances spark curiosity and bring the belly laughter that we all love, and you may even learn something new about your friends and family… like did you know that Marvin Moon loves cooking shows?
MARVIN: “I am so excited to see food writer and cook Nigella Lawson in November. I used to absolutely love her cooking shows and look forward to spending an evening hearing from her about her new book.”
Nigella isn’t the only world-renowned speaker and writer coming to the stage this year! Catch the legendary astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson in Verizon Hall, Emmy nominated TV personality Jonathan Van Ness of Netflix’s Queer Eye, and poet Rupi Kaur. If comedy is more your style, don’t miss the wide variety of performers coming this year, like political satirist Randy Rainbow, Amanda Seales, Nate Bargatze, Heather McDonald, The Second City, and more!
Tickets for the 2022-23 live performance season are on sale NOW. Prices start as low as $25.Explore the full listings of performances and events from the Philadelphia Orchestra and more on the Kimmel Cultural Campus, as well as our season brochure (probably sitting in your mailbox right now!). We can’t wait to see you on the Kimmel Cultural Campus!
More about Yumi Kendall and Marvin Moon
Yumi Kendall joined The Philadelphia Orchestra in September 2004 as assistant principal cello, immediately following her graduation from the Curtis Institute of Music. She began studying cello at the age of five and at age 16, made her solo debut at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra. She was the 2013 recipient of C. Hartman Kuhn Award, which is given annually to and Orchestra member “who has shown ability and enterprise of such character as to enhance the standards and the reputation of The Philadelphia Orchestra.” A proud Suzuki alumnus, Yumi founded the Suzuki Alumni Project in 2016 as a way to celebrate Suzuki education and express gratitude to the movement’s teachers all over the globe. Read her full bio on philorch.org
A native of Philadelphia, violist Marvin Moon joined The Philadelphia Orchestra in 2007 after performing for several years as a substitute player in Philly and the New York Philharmonic. He previously was principal viola of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and the Curtis Symphony, and he was also a member of the Haddonfield Symphony (now Symphony in C) and the New York String Seminar Chamber Orchestra. As a chamber musician, Mr. Moon has been a member of the Koryo String Quartet since 2001. Marvin attended the Temple University Music Preparatory Division and the Curtis Institute of Music. Read his full bio at philorg.org.