Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra

Registration date:	2006-06-23
Country:	United States
City:	Philadelphia
Address:	1616 Walnut Street, Suite 1400
Telephone:	609-771-4285
Homepage:	http://www.philadelphiavirtuosi.com
Contact person:	Daniel Spalding
Contact language(s):	english, french
Contact e-mail:	PhilaVirtuosi@msn.com

Description
The Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra is a distinguished ensemble with a fast-growing international reputation for excellence. Praised for its “innovative programming” by the Philadelphia Inquirer, the orchestra’s electric performances are often described by the press with comments such as “captivating” (London Observer), “dazzling” (Palm Beach Daily News), “exciting” (San Francisco Examiner), “breathtaking” (Bermuda Royal Gazette), and “magnificent” (San Bernardino County Sun). Composed of some of the region’s foremost musicians, the group was founded in 1991 by music director and conductor Daniel Spalding. Under his baton, the orchestra performs an annual concert series in Center City Philadelphia, as well as in unusual venues throughout the region designed to reach new audiences. The orchestra’s vast repertoire encompasses Baroque to Modern. Programs often include new discoveries of less known works, world premieres, arrangements written especially for the Philadelphia Virtuosi, as well as standard repertoire, sometimes performed with creative visual effects such as special lighting or stage movement. Since 1996, the Philadelphia Virtuosi has been in constant demand outside its home city and is often on the road. The orchestra has performed at New York’s Lincoln Center, Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, Columbia University’s Miller Theater, the Bermuda Festival, on three extensive tours to South America, and in virtually every region of the United States. During the past few seasons, the orchestra traveled many thousands of miles with performances in California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, Illinois, and many states in between. In 2010 they made their debut in Mexico and in Serbia at the Nomus International Festival in Novi Sad.

The Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra is also known for its impressive series of recordings on the Connoisseur Society label and on Naxos. Pianoforte (UK) described their debut CD, which was a Grammy finalist, as “a real success…a delight, full of fresh ideas…highly polished,” and the American Record Guide called it “powerful…highly entertaining and exciting.” Their recording of the music of American composer George Antheil for the Naxos American Classics Series (including the enigmatic Ballet Mecanique) was “Editor’s Choice” for Gramophone, chosen as “CD of the week” by BBC Radio 3 and the London Observer, and as one of the top 10 classical CD’s of 2001 by the Chicago Tribune. It was also a best selling album in the UK and one of Naxos best selling CDs in the USA. Most recently, the orchestra has recorded the music of American composer Howard Hanson for Naxos which received the Third Annual Writers’ Choice Award for Best CD in 2006 from Positive Feedback Online, and a second CD of the music of George Antheil for New World Records. These recordings are also receiving tremendous reviews from the world press.