Beethoven’s Ninth with Yannick

Philadelphia Orchestra Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin returns to SPAC to anchor the 60th anniversary season with the return of the piece that opened the Orchestra’s first season at SPAC in 1966: Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Soloists are soprano Leah Hawkins, mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges, tenor Issachah Savage, and bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green, joined by Albany Pro Musica.

The evening opens with the SPAC premiere of William Grant Still’s rarely performed Wood Notes, a pastoral suite inspired by the American South and the poetry of Joseph Mitchell Pilcher. This performance continues SPAC’s and the Orchestra’s commitment to restoring and presenting works by underrepresented composers.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Canadian-born conductor and pianist Yannick Nézet-Séguin is currently in his 14th season with The Philadelphia Orchestra, serving as music and artistic director. Under his leadership the Orchestra has returned to recording with releases on Deutsche Grammophon, including Florence Price Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3, which won a GRAMMY Award for Best Orchestral Performance in 2022. To read his full bio, visit philorch.org/conductor.

Soloists
- Leah Hawkins — Recipient of The Metropolitan Opera’s 2024 Beverly Sills Artist Award and a graduate of the Met’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. Past performances include roles at The Metropolitan Opera and with The Philadelphia Orchestra.

• J’Nai Bridges — Two-time Grammy Award–winning American mezzo-soprano, praised for a "plush-voiced mezzo-soprano" and "calmly commanding stage presence." Active in conversations about inclusion and racial justice in classical music and recipient of honors including the Sphinx Medal of Excellence and a Richard Tucker Career Grant.

• Issachah Savage — Dramatic tenor with appearances with many leading orchestras and a wide-ranging symphonic and operatic repertoire, including Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and major dramatic tenor roles.

• Ryan Speedo Green — Three-time Grammy Award–winning bass-baritone. His story is told in the book Sing for Your Life by Daniel Bergner. Upcoming and recent engagements include major role debuts and returns to leading opera houses.

Albany Pro Musica
Albany Pro Musica (APM) is a choral ensemble in New York’s Capital Region known for technically accomplished and purposefully programmed performances, ranging from a cappella works to large-scale choral repertoire. APM offers educational programs and festivals for young musicians. albanypromusica.org

Permitted items (subject to change):
- Food, beverages, and disposable utensils (compostable, plastic, reusable, etc.)
- Blankets and breathable ground coverings
- Umbrellas (personal-sized only on the amphitheater lawn)
- Lawn chairs (must not exceed 43" in height when opened; on the center amphitheater lawn must not exceed 26" 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 (subject to change):
- 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 guests may be searched via metal detectors. Bags include coolers, baskets, tote bags, purses, diaper bags, strollers, and other containers. Prohibited items should be disposed of or returned to your vehicle.
- Smoking is permitted only in designated areas. Please dispose of cigarette butts properly.
- Guests may bring blankets and umbrellas but should consider others; disruptive items may be asked to 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. Report concerns to SPAC staff or security.

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 performances begin will not be seated until an appropriate break at the discretion of House Staff.
- Please turn off or silence mobile devices before the program. If you must use a device in an emergency, step outside the theater.
- Video, photography, audio, or cell phone recording during performances is prohibited.