The Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert

This Sunday from 2 to 4 pm, The Philadelphia Orchestra renews its historic connection with the great Finnish master Jean Sibelius (Stokowski led the U.S. premieres of his last three symphonies) as Simon Rattle will conduct the final two symphonies, Nos. 6 and 7, together without interruption, from a May, 2013 concert.

This week’s WRTI Sunday radio broadcast of The Philadelphia Orchestra features Englishman Simon Rattle, music director of the Berlin Philharmonic, on the podium. WRTI's Susan Lewis has more on this much sought-after international conductor, who has a bond with the Philadelphians nurtured over the last 20 years.

Listen to WRTI on Sunday, June 16th at 2 pm to hear Sir Simon Rattle leading The Philadelphia Orchestra in a program featuring symphonies No. 6 and 7 of  Sibelius, Norman’s Unstuck, and Beethoven’s piano concerto No. 3. Pianist Lang Lang is soloist.

As the Philadelphia Orchestra continues its residency in China, we listen back this Sunday to one of Wolfgang Sawallisch's last performances with the Orchestra from late April, 2003.

Celebrated violinist Hilary Hahn returns to Philadelphia to perform Korngold's Violin Concerto.  The concerto was dedicated to Alma Mahler, the widow of Korngold's childhood mentor Gustav Mahler. It was premiered on February 15, 1947 by Jascha Heifetz.

The Philadelphia Orchestra's 113th season may be over this weekend, but our broadcast year isn’t done!  We’ll be back with you Sunday, May 26th, at our usual 2 PM time, for more Brahms - as we’ll hear his radiant Second Symphony, written in a burst of creativity over a few short months.

Also on the program is Elgar's spirited Cockaigne Overture, ("In London Town"), drawing its character from the sometimes bawdy urban sounds of marching bands, church bells, and merry revelers.

The renowned British conductor Donald Runnicles is the conductor for this Sunday’s Philadelphia Orchestra concert broadcast on WRTI. Scottish-born and raised, Runnicles left his native land very early in his career. And as WRTI’s Jim Cotter reports, he has happily “settled” wherever the muse has taken him.