Yannick Conducts An Alpine Symphony
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Strauss’ An Alpine Symphony, the composer’s powerful and passionate ode to nature. The program opens with the SPAC Premiere of Robert Schumann’s Konzertstück for horns and orchestra. Wholly unique in its nature, the work showcases horns as the soloist in a wild and furious score designed to showcase the unparalleled virtuosity of the Fabulous Philadelphians.
Program
| Schuman | Konzertstück for horns and orchestra* |
| Strauss | An Alpine Symphony |
*Indicates SPAC Premiere
Performers
Yannick Nézet-Séguin | conductor
Jennifer Montone | horn
Jeffrey Lang | horn
Chelsea McFarland | horn
Christopher Dwyer | horn
Ernesto Tovar Torres | horn
Yannick Nézet-Séguin
In September 2018, Yannick Nézet-Séguin becomes the third Music Director of the Metropolitan Opera, New York. Music Director of the Philadelphia Orchestra since 2012, he becomes Artistic and Music Director in February 2023 and renews his contract until 2030. Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Orchestre Métropolitain of Montreal since 2000, he signs a contract “for life” in 2019. He is Honorary Conductor of the Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest after being their Music Director from 2008 to 2018. He is also Honorary Member of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
Yannick has worked with many leading European ensembles and enjoys close collaborations with Berliner Philharmoniker, Wiener Philharmoniker, Bayerischer Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester and Chamber Orchestra of Europe; between 2008 and 2014, he was also Principal Guest Conductor of London Philharmonic Orchestra. He has appeared many times at the BBC Proms and at many European festivals, among them Edinburgh, Lucerne, Salzburg and Grafenegg (Vienna). North American summer appearances include New York’s Mostly Mozart Festival, Lanaudiere, Vail and Saratoga along with Domaine Forget Festival in Charlevoix. With the Philadelphia Orchestra, he goes regularly to Carnegie Hall where he has been Perspectives Artist in 2019-2020. He also conducts master classes, notably at two of the most renowned institutions, the Curtis Institute of Philadelphia and the Julliard School of New York. In Quebec, he directs an academy of young conductors linked to the Orchestre Métropolitain, in close collaboration with the Domaine Forget Summer Festival.
Jennifer Montone
GRAMMY® Award-winner Jennifer Montone has been hailed by the New York Times for her “flawless horn solos … and warm and noble sound.” As principal horn of The Philadelphia Orchestra, and a world acclaimed soloist, chamber musician, and teacher, she has been on the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music and the Juilliard School since joining the Orchestra in 2006.
Previously the principal horn of the St. Louis Symphony and associate principal horn of the Dallas Symphony, Ms. Montone was an adjunct professor at Southern Methodist University and performer/faculty at the Aspen Music Festival and School. She currently coaches on occasion at the New World Symphony. She was third horn of the New Jersey Symphony from 1997 to 2000, and she has performed as a guest artist with the Berlin Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic.
Jeffrey Lang
Jeffrey Lang is an orchestral horn player, educator, and studio musician in the Greater New York-Philadelphia area. He is the associate principal horn of The Philadelphia Orchestra and is currently on the faculties of Bard College, Temple University, and the Curtis Institute of Music. Formerly principal horn of the Israel Philharmonic and the American Symphony Orchestra, he has also performed as guest principal horn of the Bavarian Radio Orchestra, the New York City Opera Orchestra, and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
Mr. Lang studied at the Juilliard School and Temple University. He has recently given master classes in Israel, Finland, Korea, China, and the United States. He has appeared as soloist with such conductors as Zubin Mehta, Myung-Whun Chung, Kurt Masur, Cristian Măcelaru, and Rossen Milanov. Chamber music performances at home and abroad have included concerts with Bella Davidovich, Diane Walsh, Simone Dinnerstein, Melvin Chan, Natalie Zhu, Juliette Kang, the Israel Piano Trio, the Wister Quartet, the Canadian Brass, the Philadelphia Chamber Ensemble, and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. He has participated in the Kingston Chamber Music Festival, Bard Summerscape, OK Mozart, and the Spoleto Festival.
Chelsea McFarland
Chelsea McFarland joined The Philadelphia Orchestra as third horn in the 2022–23 season. Born in Decatur, Georgia, she fostered a love for orchestral playing with the Atlanta Youth Symphony Orchestra. She received her bachelor’s degree from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where she studied with Jennifer Montone and Jeffrey Lang. After graduating in 2018, Ms. McFarland joined the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra as third horn for four seasons. Additionally, she has performed with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the New World Symphony, and as a member of Symphony in C.
A passionate educator, Ms. McFarland was a faculty member at the Atlanta Horn Festival, where she was also a featured artist; a faculty member at the 2022 Brass Blast at Kennesaw State University; and a coach at the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. She also filmed a season of Music for the Young produced by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and a French horn clinic for the Georgia Music Educators Association.
Christopher Dwyer
Christopher Dwyer joined The Philadelphia Orchestra as second horn at the start of the 2020–21 season. He previously served for six seasons as the second horn of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra under David Robertson. Mr. Dwyer has also held positions with the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, the Sun Valley Music Festival Orchestra, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, and the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra.
Additionally, Mr. Dwyer has frequently performed as a guest with other major symphony orchestras including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Among his other festival appearances are the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Santa Fe Opera, Sarasota Opera, Music from Angel Fire, Bellingham, Norfolk, and the National Repertory Orchestra.
Ernesto Tovar Torres
Mexican-born hornist Ernesto Tovar Torres is the fourth horn of The Philadelphia Orchestra and is in high demand as a soloist and orchestral and chamber musician. Before his tenure in Philadelphia, he served as second horn for the Atlanta Symphony from 2015 to 2017.
Mr. Tovar has also performed with the Dallas Symphony, the Steamboat Springs String Festival, the Naples Philharmonic, the Bellingham Festival Orchestra (WA), and the Grand Rapids Symphony.
Major music festival engagements include the Eastern Music Festival (NC), the Texas Music Festival, the Banff Master Class for Strings and Winds, and Spoleto USA. Mr. Tovar was also a finalist in the 2013 International Horn Competition of America, where he performed the Glière HornConcerto.
Our 2024 New York City Ballet & The Philadelphia Orchestra residencies are made possible with support from DeCrescente, Mackey Auto Group and Kids in Free sponsor, Fenimore Asset Management, as well as, additional supporting corporate sponsors & individual contributors.
“Kids in Free” Presented by Fenimore Asset Management
Did you know?! Kids 12 and under are free on the lawn with an accompanying adult for Saratoga Jazz Festival and all performances of New York City Ballet and The Philadelphia Orchestra (excluding movie nights when they are 50% off).
Kids 12 and under are also 50% off in amphitheater for Saratoga Jazz Festival and all performances of New York City Ballet and The Philadelphia Orchestra.
No tickets are required for Kids in Free admission with an accompanying adult ticket holder – go directly to the gate! Made possible by Fenimore Asset Management.
SPAC Amphitheater
Our main stage has a 25,000 person capacity with sheltered seats for 5,200 people and a sloping lawn for an additional 20,000 people.
SPAC Amphitheater Ground Rules
Applicable for classical events including New York City Ballet and The Philadelphia Orchestra. View Live Nation event ground rules here.
Permitted Items
- Food, beverages, and disposable utensils (compostable, plastic, reusable, etc).
- Picnic blankets and breathable ground coverings.
- Umbrellas and chairs are permitted, but will be restricted by sizing for use on the main amphitheater lawn, as follows:
- Lawn chairs must not exceed 43” when collapsed.
- Lawn chairs on the center amphitheater lawn must not exceed 26″ in height when opened.
- Only personal-sized umbrellas will be permitted on the lawn.
- NO tents of any size will be permitted on the amphitheater lawn.
Items Not Permitted
- Metal utensils
- Plastic tarps
- Tents are prohibited from the Amphitheater lawn.
- 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
Grounds:
- To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all SPAC visitors and staff, all containers and packages will be inspected. This includes coolers, baskets, tote bags, purses, diaper bags, strollers, and all other containers.Any item that is not permitted to come onto the SPAC grounds should be disposed of or returned to your vehicle.
- Smoking is permitted on the SPAC grounds in designated areas only.Please ensure that all cigarette butts are disposed of properly.
- Guests are welcome to bring blankets and umbrellas but please consider others around you- if your items are disruptive to others, you may be asked to remove them.
- In the event that guests are unable to sit through the entire performance, please note that there is a grassy area behind the Julie Bonacio Family Pavilion with access to a video screen which would allow guests to continue watching the performance.
House:
- Beverages are permitted in the amphitheater, but food is not.
- As a courtesy to the performers and the audience, latecomers won’t be seated until the earliest appropriate opportunity in the performance at the discretion of the House Staff.
- Please turn off or silence all mobile devices prior to the start of the program.Texting and making calls in the theater is not allowed. Should an emergency arise in which you must use a mobile device, we ask that you step outside of the theater to avoid disturbing other guests.
- Video, photography, audio, or cell phone recording during performances is prohibited.
- SPAC has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment of any kind, including but not limited to race, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender presentation, sexual orientation, age, ability, religion, and citizenship. Harassment includes but is not limited to stalking, verbal or physical intimidation, offensive verbal comments, physical assault and/or battery, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome physical attention. If you are made to feel uncomfortable or unsafe, please immediately report any concerns to SPAC staff or security personnel so appropriate action can be taken.
All SPAC ground rules are subject to change. By entering the SPAC grounds, guests agree to abide by the rules listed above. Management reserves the right to modify these rules or can request to see the contents of any belongings brought on property at their discretion. We appreciate your cooperation in maintaining the utmost levels of safety and convenience for our guests and staff.
Where to Stay
Whether you’re visiting from out of town, or want to stay the night nearby after an event, Saratoga Springs has a place waiting for you. As part of our commitment to the community, SPAC is proud to collaborate with preferred hotel partners to offer the best experience to our guests.
Group Sales
Experience SPAC together! From groups of friends and family to corporate outings, senior centers, summer camps, and arts schools, we can curate a special experience for your group of 10 or more. We offer discounts, flexible options and can work with your group leader to tailor your needs for a memorable day.
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