On Thursday, the Arts and Entertainment group went to the Kimmel Center and sat in on an open rehearsal for The Philadelphia Orchestra. The orchestra was led by Canadian Conductor and Music Director Yannick Nezet-Seguin. The Philadelphia Orchestra is one of the top orchestras in the country and internationally. The first section of the rehearsal was 90-minutes. During this time, they focused on the Shostakovich Symphony No. 5. They worked on the piece in sections, with the conductor giving constructive critiques and musical direction throughout.
What was interesting about watching the orchestra was seeing how they rehearse. The people of the orchestra worked together to perfect the music, but they all look like they were really enjoying their time together. They made jokes and laughed with each other, making the stage look like a very safe space for everyone. Additionally, Verizon Hall was very elegant looking!
After listening to the rehearsal, we walked around Center City, grabbed lunch at a few different spots, and went back to the bus for our return to school.
This was a great way to cap off our trips for the week. We look forward to a great half-day tomorrow!