July 12, 2007 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

Orchestra concert enchants audience
by JENNIFER KATZ

Led by associate conductor Rossen Milanov, the Philadelphia Orchestra played one its illustrious “free neighborhood concerts” at Pastorius Park on July 2. The 104-piece orchestra played for over an hour before a crowd of 3,500 listeners. It was the first time the orchestra played in Chestnut Hill, although Pastorius Park has been the site of weekly summer concerts for nearly 60 years. The orchestra will play its next free neighborhood concert on July 21 at Clark Park in West Philadelphia. The Pastorius Park concert series continues July 18 with Melody Gardot. (Photo by Erin Vertreace)

The world-class Philadelphia Orchestra made its Chestnut Hill debut in front of thousands at Pastorius Park last Monday. Both organizers and audience members were delighted with the event that brought the 104-piece orchestra to a makeshift stage on one of the summer’s most beautiful evenings.

According to Fairmount Park, a crowd of 3,500 relaxed on blankets, ate picnic dinners and sipped wine, while listening to the 65-minute concert. With July 4th looming, the orchestra’s lineup began with “The Star-Spangled Banner” before moving on to a short Beethoven piece.

The major offering of the evening was Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 in E minor in four-movements. The crowd seemed mesmerized. Children mimicked associate conductor Rossen Milanov’s movements waving their arms in the air.

The sounds of rambunctious children could be heard from the perimeter of the crowd as the orchestra ended the show with variations on “America” from Charles Ives.

The evening went off without a hitch, according to organizers, who said they were thrilled with the event.

?Associate conductor Rossen Milanov led the orchestra through its hour-long performance. (Photos by Erin Vertreace)

“It was a perfect night,” said Carey Sulieman, director of marketing for the orchestra.

The orchestra performs three neighborhood concerts a year, usually at different venues. Sulieman said the orchestra receives more than 40 requests a year for community concerts.

The high cost of transporting the staging equipment, between $150,000 and $200,000, is a prohibitive factor in putting on these concerts, said Sulieman.

The community steering committee was asked to raise $50,000 to offset some of the orchestra’s costs for additional staging needs, said event co-chair Tia Burke.

Burke, who is also chair of the Pastorius Park concert series, spearheaded the movement to bring the orchestra to Chestnut Hill. She spent months working with the orchestra to ready the park.

?Philadelphia Orchestra member Yumi Kenndal takes a few moments to practice before the concert at Pastorious Park.

“It couldn’t have been better,” Burke said. “It was a stunning venue and a beautiful night.”

For parents it was a chance to introduce their children to classical music in an ideal setting. Robert Mitchell and his wife, Denise, live in Mt. Airy with their son, 9, and daughter, 7.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to expose (our children) to the orchestra,” said Robert Mitchell, whose children are home schooled.

Mitchell said the family had previously attended a neighborhood concert in center city.

“It just a laid back, relaxed way to hear classical music,” he added.

Contact staff writer Jennifer Katz at 215-248-8804 or jenn@chestnuthilllocal.com.