Tracing its roots to the city’s first professional orchestra in 1924, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic formed in 1988 with the help of dedicated civic leaders and corporations and celebrates 27 years of performances in Oklahoma City. Under the musical direction of Joel Levine, the orchestra performs Classics, orchestral Pops, and Discovery Family concerts, as well a variety of community engagements.
The Philharmonic offered their season opening gala concert marking the start of their 27th year on Saturday, September 12th at the Civic Center Music Hall in downtown Oklahoma City. Led by music director Joel Levine, the Philharmonic presented a program featuring Ron Nelson’s Savannah River Holiday, the 1919 version of the Suite from the ballet The Firebird by Igor Stravinsky and the Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op 83 of Johannes Brahms with guest pianist Emanuel Ax. The Grammy-Award winning and internationally celebrated American pianist offers commentary about the role of the listener in live performance, the importance of musical instrument study in building future audiences, the pianist as chamber musician and insights into one of the Romantic Era's greatest works for piano and orchestra!
Performance Oklahoma airs Saturday, 10/17, 8pm on Classical 88.7.