Emanuel Ax Plays Beethoven

Legendary GRAMMY Award-winning pianist Emanuel Ax, Musical America’s 2026 “Artist of the Year,” returns to SPAC to perform one of Beethoven’s most iconic works alongside The Philadelphia Orchestra. Celebrated Italian conductor Daniele Rustioni, the newly appointed Principal Guest Conductor of The Metropolitan Opera, leads this captivating, can’t-miss performance following his SPAC debut the night before.

The program opens with Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, unique for beginning with a piano solo. The second half features Brahms’ Symphony No. 1, a dramatic work inspired by Beethoven’s Ninth that includes the composer's interpretation of the “Ode to Joy” theme.

Ticketing and box office
- All e-tickets for The Philadelphia Orchestra will be sent one week prior to the performance date. Please contact the Box Office with any questions at 518-584-9330.
- Web & phone ticket purchases will incur a $7 service fee; no fees are applied for in-person ticket purchases at the Box Office.

Parking
- Premier parking upgrade available as an optional add-on for $20 (limited spaces, Route 50 entry gate access). Purchase at checkout.
- General admission parking is free.

About the artists
- Daniele Rustioni (42) is an Italian conductor. He is Principal Guest Conductor of the Metropolitan Opera House in New York; Principal Guest Conductor Designate of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra; Music Director Emeritus of the Opéra National de Lyon; Music Director Laureate of the Ulster Orchestra; and Conductor Emeritus of the Orchestra della Toscana in Florence. He was born in Milan and studied at the Milan Conservatory, La Scala Academy, Accademia Musicale Chigiana, and the Royal Academy of Music. He resides in London with his wife, violinist Francesca Dego, and their daughter.

• Emanuel Ax was born to Polish parents in what is today Lviv, Ukraine, and moved to Winnipeg, Canada, as a child. He made his New York debut in the Young Concert Artists Series, won the first Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition (1974), the Michaels Award of Young Concert Artists (1975), and the Avery Fisher Prize. He was recently named the 2026 Musical America Artist of the Year. Mr. Ax has been a Sony Classical exclusive recording artist since 1987 and has undertaken a multi-year project with violinist Leonidas Kavakos and cellist Yo-Yo Ma to record all the Beethoven Trios. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and holds honorary doctorates from Skidmore College, New England Conservatory of Music, Yale University, and Columbia University.

Permitted items
- Food, beverages, and disposable utensils (compostable, plastic, reusable, etc.)
- Blankets and breathable ground coverings
- Umbrellas (personal-sized umbrellas only will be permitted on the amphitheater lawn)
- Lawn chairs (must not exceed 43" in height when opened; lawn chairs on the center amphitheater lawn must not exceed 26" in height when opened)
- Tents (note: tents of any size will NOT be permitted on the Amphitheater lawn or immediately in front of the Charles R. Wood Discovery Stage)

Items not permitted
- Metal utensils
- Plastic tarps
- Lawn chairs over 43" in height when opened
- Tents on the Amphitheater lawn or immediately in front of the Charles R. Wood Discovery Stage
- Grills, cooking equipment, or any flame that uses a liquid, gas, or gel accelerant
- Laser pointers
- Drones
- Professional audio or video recording equipment
- Cameras with detachable lenses
- Bikes, rollerblades, skateboards, scooters, etc.
- Pets (except ADA-approved service animals)
- Illegal drugs or substances
- Weapons of any kind

Ground rules
- Security procedure: all bags will be inspected and all personnel will be searched via metal detectors. Bags include coolers, baskets, tote bags, purses, diaper bags, strollers, and other containers. Any item not permitted on the SPAC grounds should be disposed of or returned to your vehicle.
- Smoking is permitted on the SPAC grounds in designated areas only. Please dispose of cigarette butts properly.
- Guests may bring blankets and umbrellas but should consider others; disruptive items may be removed.
- Reentry is permitted for SPAC-produced events with a reentry wristband obtained from staff at the gates prior to exiting.
- SPAC has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment of any kind. If you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, report concerns immediately to SPAC staff or security personnel.

Amphitheater house rules for classical performances
- "House" refers to seating inside the amphitheater; these rules apply to SPAC-produced events.
- Beverages are permitted in the amphitheater, but food is not.
- Guests arriving after the performance begins will not be seated until an appropriate break at the discretion of House Staff.
- Please turn off or silence all mobile devices prior to the start of the program. If an emergency requires using a mobile device, step outside the theater to avoid disturbing others.
- Video, photography, audio, or cell phone recording during performances is prohibited.