Ancient Airs
Renowned for its luminous string sound, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia shines in a program celebrating the lush versatility of the string orchestra. Respighi’s Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. III, David Diamond’s lyrical Rounds for String Orchestra, and Leonard Bernstein’s masterful orchestral arrangement of Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 16, Op. 135 come together in an evening of warmth, refinement, and extraordinary artistry.
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
Holiday Brandenburg
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, showcasing 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 7:30pm
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.
Lecture Series
Brandenburg and Bach
Sunday, December 6, 2026 2:30PM
Music Director David Hayes explores the brilliance and complexity of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos – six remarkably inventive works that showcase a different and often daring combination of instruments. Written during a period when Bach was deeply engaged with secular instrumental music, the Brandenburg Concertos reveal the composer at his most imaginative and adventurous. David will illuminate what makes these works so distinctive and why, more than 300 years later, they remain among the great achievements of the Baroque era.
The Heiligenstadt Letter: Beethoven and Mental Health
Sunday, February 21, 2027 2:30PM
Kenneth J. Weiss, M.D., is psychiatrist and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry with expertise in forensic psychiatric assessment and consultation. Drawing on his understanding of human behavior and the complexities of the mind, Dr. Weiss will join Music Director David Hayes to explore the mind of Beethoven, tracing his psychological and creative evolution from his middle period through his final years.
An Autopsy of Beethoven
Sunday, April 18, 2027 2:30PM
Martin Heyworth, M.D., is a physician, medical researcher, and musician. A graduate of Cambridge University, he spent his career in academic medicine before retiring in 2017 to pursue his longstanding interest in music and composition. Drawing on his expertise in both medicine and music, Dr. Heyworth will explore Beethoven’s declining health and eventual death in light of new medical evidence.
Our Mission
Subscribers get exclusive benefits by buying three or more concerts.
The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia (COP) is renowned for its artistic excellence, remarkable versatility across musical styles, and adventurous programming. Founded in 1964, COP comprises 33 musicians—approximately the size of orchestra for which Mozart, Haydn, and early Beethoven wrote—allowing for stylistic authenticity, clarity of texture, and an intimate concert experience that audiences increasingly value. COP is led by Music Director David Hayes, appointed in 2024 as the Orchestra’s fourth music director.
COP is deeply committed to sharing exceptional live music with broad and diverse communities throughout Greater Philadelphia. The Orchestra presents more than 30 subscription, neighborhood, and educational programs each season and extends its reach through livestream broadcasts of select performances. COP also hosts the biennial Lloyd Piano Competition, which most recently brought six finalists from across the country to Philadelphia in June 2026. Competition winner Elliot Wuu joins COP next season as soloist in Grieg’s Piano Concerto.
This season, the Chamber Orchestra partners with unique spaces and concert venues across the region to create memorable experiences for its audiences. COP performs in museums, churches, cloisters, and theaters—inviting audiences to experience great music in settings that complement and enhance each program.
The season also features three special lectures at the Philadelphia Ethical Society, offering audiences a deeper connection to the music, composers, and ideas behind the Orchestra’s performances.
The season culminates with Orchestra in the Garden, bringing the Chamber Orchestra into beautiful natural landscapes across the region and creating a distinctive meeting of music, architecture, and nature.