50 Years of Music in the Park with The Philadelphia Orchestra

Fifty years ago, music first echoed through the summer air at the Robin Hood Dell West. Highmark Mann and The Philadelphia Orchestra—under the baton of the Orchestra’s celebrated principal guest conductor, Marin Alsop—honor the magic of that Opening Night in 1976 with timeless works by Beethoven, Ravel, and Holst. The evening will begin with Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3, a piece that was featured on the Robin Hood Dell West’s actual Opening Night in 1976. Next, the Orchestra will be joined by a rousing drumline as we are treated to Ravel’s Bolero, known for its unchanging rhythm that is played 169 times throughout the piece as two melodies are passed between the instruments. The evening will conclude with Holst’s The Planets, with its seven movements, each representing a different planet in our solar system—Earth was not depicted. One of Holst’s most well-known works, this masterpiece, which includes a chorus of sopranos and altos from The Philadelphia Chorale in the last movement, was also an inspiration for John Williams’ score for the Star Wars series. This golden celebration, rich with harmony and history, will serve as a loving commemoration of Highmark Mann’s 50th Anniversary.