Beethoven the Revolutionary
David Hayes music director
Trio Zimbalist
Josef Špaček violin
Timotheos Gavriilidis-Petrin cello
George Xiaoyuan Fu piano
*Friday, May 15, 2026 7:30pm
+Sunday, May 17, 2026 2:30pm
*This performance will take place at the Philadelphia Film Society Center
+This performance will take place at the Church of the Holy Trinity
Beloved by our audiences more than any other composer, Beethoven takes center stage in this monumental program under the baton of David Hayes. This all-Beethoven concert features two of his most powerful works—Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55 Eroica and the Triple Concerto in C major, Op. 56, performed by the acclaimed Trio Zimbalist. Hailed for their “astonishingly accomplished debut” by Gramophone and named to its prestigious Editor’s Choice list, Trio Zimbalist brings their virtuosic artistry to this unforgettable performance.
Members of the trio—violinist Josef Špaček, cellist Timotheos Gavriilidis-Petrin, and pianist George Xiaoyuan Fu—are all distinguished alumni of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. In demand across Europe and the U.S. as soloists, chamber
musicians, and recitalists, they form an inimitable ensemble with repertoire spanning Romantic masterworks to today’s most lauded composers.
Season 26/27
Discover a season of deep listening that centers classical
and baroque masterpieces with the intimacy and
precision that only a chamber orchestra can bring.
This year, we begin multi-season projects that explore
the 200th anniversaries of the deaths of Beethoven and
Schubert, essential favorites of Mozart and Haydn, and
a complete traversal of Bach’s Brandenburgs featuring our
own virtuosic soloists.
We also present a new lecture series where you can find
a more rich and personal connection to these incredible
works with music director David Hayes and guest
experts at the Ethical Society on Rittenhouse Square
More Upcoming Performances
Beethoven the Revolutionary
Friday, May 15, 2026 7:30pm
Sunday, May 17, 2026 2:30pm
Beloved by our audiences more than any other composer, Beethoven takes center stage in this monumental program under the baton of David Hayes. This all-Beethoven concert features two of his most powerful works—Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55 Eroica and the Triple Concerto in C major, Op. 56, performed by the acclaimed Trio Zimbalist. Hailed for their “astonishingly accomplished debut” by Gramophone and named to its prestigious Editor’s Choice list, Trio Zimbalist brings their virtuosic artistry to this unforgettable performance.
Benefit Concert: Musicians’ Favorites
Sunday, June 7, 2026 4:00pm
Join us for an inspiring musical experience in support of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia’s artistic and community initiatives.
Mozart Symphony No. 40
Sunday, September 27, 2026 4:00pm
Music Director David Hayes opens the 2026–27 season with Mozart’s
Symphony No. 40 in G minor, a work of uncommon intensity and one of
the defining symphonies of the Classical era. Its expressive depth reveals
Mozart in a darker and more searching voice. The program continues with
J.C. Bach’s Symphony in G minor, Op. 6 No. 6, whose poise and vitality reflect
the style that so influenced the young Mozart. Closing the program is
Schubert’s Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major, a tribute to the Classical
tradition and especially to Mozart. Light in texture and rich in melody, it
shows the young Schubert writing with clarity, elegance, and unmistakable
lyricism
Francisco Plays the Devil’s Trill
Sunday, November 8, 2026 4:00pm
Internationally acclaimed violinist Francisco Fullana returns to the
Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia as violinist and leader for a program of
mystery and intrigue. Currently serving as Artistic Advisor, Fullana has
become a defining artistic presence for the Orchestra and a favorite with
Philadelphia audiences. Tartini’s Devil’s Trill brings virtuosity and legend
together in one of the most celebrated works in the violin repertoire.
Schubert’s Death and the Maiden for string orchestra adds drama and
intensity, while Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings closes the program
with music of deep expression and reflection.
Brandenburg & Theofanidis
Saturday, December 19, 2026 4:00pm
Sunday, December 20, 2026 4:00pm
Concertmaster, Min-Young Kim will lead Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos
Nos. 1, 3, and 4 showcase the brilliance, variety, and invention of one of
music’s most enduring masterpieces. Each concerto offers its own
distinctive character, from the festive energy of No. 1 to the pure string
vitality of No. 3 and the sparkling interplay of No. 4. Complementing Bach’s
music is Christopher Theofanidis’s Muse, a contemporary response inspired
by Brandenburg Concerto No. 3. Together, these works place Baroque form
and modern imagination in dialogue across three centuries.
Mozart Gran Partita
Saturday, January 16, 2027 4:00pm
Sunday, January 17, 2027 4:00pm
Mozart’s Serenade No. 10 in B-flat major, K. 361, “Gran Partita” is one of the
great masterpieces of the Classical era. Grand in scale yet intimate in
expression, the work unfolds across seven movements with elegance,
warmth, and depth. Mozart brings a remarkable range of color and
character to the score, moving from nobility and lyricism to humor and
brilliance. The result is music of refinement, beauty, and unmistakable
humanity.
Haydn Morning, Noon, and Night
Saturday, March 20, 2027 4:00pm
Sunday, March 21, 2027 4:00pm
Haydn’s Symphonies Nos. 6, 7, and 8—Le matin (“Morning”), Le midi
(“Noon”), and Le soir (“Evening”)—stand as quintessential examples of the
Classical style. Written in succession early in his career at the Esterházy
court, they form a cohesive triptych when performed together. Under the
baton of Music Director David Hayes, these masterworks unfold with
clarity, balance, and grace
Beethoven Violin Concerto
Friday, April 30, 2027 4:00pm
Sunday, May 2, 2027 4:00pm
Composed in 1806, Beethoven’s Violin Concerto reflects the best of his
middle-period style. His only concerto for violin, it is widely regarded as
one of his finest achievements and remains one of the most beloved works
in the repertoire. Symphony No. 2 stands at the threshold between his early
Classical style and the broader musical language of his middle period.
Together, these works trace Beethoven’s path from inherited eighteenth-century models toward a new musical voice.
Our Mission
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The inception of the ensemble was motivated, in part, by the desire to provide performance opportunities for young professional musicians emerging from the Curtis Institute of Music and other regional training programs, as well as the intention to contribute meaningfully to the region’s cultural life. Over time, its mission and programming have broadened, inspired by a desire to help secure the future of classical repertoire by placing it in a broader context of contemporary works (including new commissions), other musical genres and traditions, and lesser-known pieces from the traditional repertoire which deserve modern audience attention. Creative collaborations with other major arts institutions, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Clef Club of Jazz, and the Annenberg Center, have been a key focus of those ambitions – all with the intention of enriching the musical experiences of Philadelphia audiences through original programming choices that stretch boundaries and invite fresh perspectives. In total, the organization has commissioned and premiered over seventy new works. It remains committed to showcasing emerging young performers of exceptional talent.
Ignat Solzhenitsyn, a concert pianist and conducting graduate from the Curtis Institute, was named Principal Conductor in 1998 and Music Director in 2004. As Conductor Laureate (since 2010), Maestro Solzhenitsyn has gone on to a distinguished international career as a concert pianist and conductor but remains closely associated with the Orchestra.
The current Music Director is Maestro David Hayes, a conductor known for his extensive repertoire spanning symphonic, oratorio/choral, and operatic genres, who holds significant roles in the music world. His passion for pushing boundaries and his dedication to showcasing diverse musical expressions have earned him recognition as a transformative force in the classical music scene, inspiring audiences and musicians alike.
Over the course of the ensemble’s rich and diverse history, the Chamber Orchestra has performed with a remarkable roster of world-renowned artists, including Luciano Pavarotti, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Mstislav Rostropovich, Isaac Stern, Rudolf Serkin, The Eroica Trio, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Steven Isserlis, Joseph Silverstein, and Catherine Michel, as well as virtuosos of contemporary music genres such as Julie Andrews, Bernadette Peters, Mark O’Connor, Elvis Costello, and Sylvia McNair.