Keep That Phone Out: LiveNote Nights with The Philadelphia Orchestra

You might have noticed: cell phones are an integral part of modern life. Yet every time you go to a performance art show you are instructed: Turn It Off! It’s a surefire way to turn audiences off. The Philadelphia Orchestra has a novel solution: a series of shorter, earlier concerts where cell phone use is encouraged.

LiveNote-iphone-webThe Orchestra launched its LiveNote App for smartphones last year and presents a series of special programs offering audience members the chance to use the recently-introduced app. This Wednesday, guest conductor Robert Spano leads Philadelphia resident and Curtis faculty member Jennifer Higdon’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Violin Concerto, with Curtis graduate Benjamin Beilman. The concert also features Debussy’s Iberia.

LiveNote Nights are designed to engage audience members (teenagers, families) looking for a shorter concert, fans (e.g., young professionals) seeking a more informative presentation, or longtime patrons who want to enjoy an earlier evening with dinner following the concert. (Shows start at 6:30 PM.) The presentations feature the conductor talking about the music and the players demonstrating the music that will be performed. Following the concerts the musicians step off the stage to meet and mingle with audience members. [Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Verizon Hall, 300 S Broad Street] philorch.org.

Upcoming shows

February 25, 2015;
Robert Spano – Conductor
Benjamin Beilman – Violin
PROGRAM
Higdon – Violin Concerto
Debussy – Iberia

April 22, 2015
Stéphane Denève – Conductor
PROGRAM
Prokofiev – Exerpts from Romeo and Juliet

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