In the Record (Troy, N.Y.) on Tuesday (7/28), Phil Drew writes, “The Philadelphia Orchestra returns to Saratoga next week for its annual residency at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, through Aug. 22—and the first two nights’ programs bring a celebrated newcomer and an old friend as guest artists of the Fabulous Philadelphians. Multi-award-winning Broadway, film and concert veteran Bernadette Peters is the opening night guest next Wednesday—and the following night will feature pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, a longtime Saratoga fixture with the orchestra and as a chamber music artist. Kicking it all off next Wednesday will be a program that features symphonic evocations of drama from Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and others, conducted by Philly principal guest conductor Stéphane Denève. The second act is under the baton of guest Marvin Laird, featuring Tony Award winner Peters in her first appearance with the Philadelphia Orchestra.” Her program consists of “arrangements by award winning orchestrator Jonathan Tunick that assay not only the Broadway songbook … but film.” Thibaudet will perform Saint-Saëns’s Piano Concerto No. 5, which he calls “a quiet, unknown piece of music…. It has all kinds of colors and sonorities…. Every now and then I like to play pieces that are not played a lot.”
Posted July 31, 2015
