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Of all the performing arts, it's music for which Philadelphia is most renowned and the Philadelphia Orchestra of which its residents are most proud. Though the Orchestra has undergone some financial hardships in recent years, the hope is it can rebound and regain its place among the world's elite. The city also serves as a major stop for touring productions of shows from A Chorus Line to Spring Awakening, and the local theater scene, which supports more than two dozen regional and local companies, is thriving.
Since the opening of the Kimmel Center in 2001, Philadelphia has enjoyed an embarrassment of riches when it comes to performance space. The Academy of Music, the Philadelphia Orchestra's previous home, remains open in all its finery; the Annenberg and Painted Bride house everything from theater to performance art; and both the Mann Center and the Susquehanna Bank Center remain premier outdoor amphitheaters.
Classical music in Philadelphia begins with the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra, which, under music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, has kept its remarkable pedigree. But there is also the Chamber Orchestra, which is also housed in the glorious Kimmel Center; the venerable Philly Pops; and the very talented students of the Curtis Institute, to round out the bill.
The resident artists at the Academy of Vocal Arts, a four-year, tuition-free vocal training program, present four or five fully staged opera productions during their September to May season. They are accompanied by the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and perform at various venues in and around the city.
Directed by David Hayes, this prestigious group performs chamber music from September to May at the Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.
The gifted students at this world-renowned music conservatory give free recitals several times a week from October through May. All of its students are on full scholarships; its alumni include such luminaries as Leonard Bernstein, Samuel Barber, and Anna Moffo. The school also has an opera and symphony orchestra series.
Dedicated solely to jazz, including its history and instruction, the Clef Club boasts a 200-seat theater for live concerts, celebrating both the present and past of Philly jazz.
A former playhouse, mainstream movie theater, and art-house cinema, the TLA is a South Street institution that helped launch the careers of many indie filmmakers; it was known for hosting screenings of cult hits like The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Nowadays, it’s a midsize live-music venue, hosting a range of rock, blues, hip-hop, and alternative acts.
