Philadelphia’s Scintillating Arts Scenario
Philadelphia Museum of Art - Courtesy www.flyawaycafe.com
Around 1400 people affiliated to Americans for the Arts congregated to Philadelphia early this summer for an annual convention. Philadelphia served as the perfect venue as its ‘a historically rich city that has evolved into one of the most exciting, vibrant arts communities in the country‘ according to Peggy Amsterdam, president of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. True, Philadelphia is one of the most pulsating centers for arts and culture on the East Coast.
With the summer unofficially over in Philadelphia and Autumn round the corner, the City of Brotherly Love is going to be churning out its unique brand of spectacular fare on the mesmerizing arts, music and museum scene. All along from the Avenue of the Arts on Broad Street to Benjamin Franklin Parkway down to the Center City, Philadelphia is going to bursting with prolific cultural attractions.
The Avenue of the Arts stretching along 4.5 miles is Philadelphia’s premier entertainment and arts district. Right from Lehigh Avenue to Washington Avenue it showcases internationally acclaimed theaters, museums and concert halls that delight visitors no end. The Benjamin Franklin Parkway is another mile-long cultural strip housing museums and libraries. Tree-lined Parkway starts at City Hall to end at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which is one of the nation’s most comprehensive art museums.
A visit to the Philadelphia Museum of Art is enjoyable as it is educative. Preserving more than 2,000 years of human creativity, it has a fine collection of art works. It also presents special exhibits of masterpieces in painting, sculpture, decorative arts and architectural settings from all over the world. Right now it is showcasing Tibetan Ritual Art of rarely-seen Tibetan-Buddhist ritual images and implements. The exhibit will be on through November 3, 2008. The striking neoclassical building of this great museum is an attraction by itself that holds interesting programs, lectures, concerts and films.
Members of Philadelphia Orchestra join the Museum to explore the intrinsic link between the visual arts and music. Two outstanding concerts scheduled this coming winter season will encompass commentary by the musicians and perhaps share some affiliation to the ongoing special exhibits. November 16th will have Che-Hung Chen and Friends presenting an ensemble featuring violinist Paul Arnold, cellist Efe Baltacigil, and pianist Natalie Zhu in a program of Brahms, Mendelssohn, and Schumann. The Philadelphia based Wister Quartet will present a program featuring works by Mozart, Debussy, and Dvořák on January 18, 2009 under Concertmaster Nancy Bean and Second Violin Davyd Booth.
The Museum continues its delightful collaborations with The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society scheduling performances for the coming months. You can enjoy acclaimed pianist Simone Dinnerstein on October 24, 2008 for her recital marking her debut with the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society. The Prism Quartet presents the saxophone concert on November 21, 2008 featuring jazz and popular musical works of James Primosch, Salvatore Sciarrino, Martin Bresnick, Augusta Read Thomas and Bernard Rands. Soprano Bonita Glenn and pianist David Lofton make an eagerly anticipated return to Philadelphia for their operatic performance on December 19, 2008.
You will find cultural entertainment aplenty with performances by popular contemporary artists held throughout the year at theaters, outdoor stages and stadiums in Philadelphia. The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is the star attraction of Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts. Housed in two separate buildings – the 2,500-seat Verizon Hall shaped like a cello hosts performances by the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra and Peter Nero and the Philly Pops. The other, a 650-seat Perelman Theater presents a variety of dance and musical performances. The architectural design featuring an arched glass roof rises 150 feet above ground. This inviting public plaza has a restaurant, gift shop and rooftop garden.
The Academy of Music, home to the Pennsylvania Ballet has a full season of great performances. The Pennsylvania Academy of Arts has a renowned collection of American paintings and sculpture spanning three centuries. Rodin Museum houses the largest collection of Rodin sculptures and drawings outside of Paris, including “The Thinker,” “The Burghers of Calais” and the “Gates of Hell.” The Institute of Contemporary Art is Philadelphia’s leading venue for emerging developments in visual arts and presents innovative work of established artists.
Just outside of Philadelphia are more attractions. The Barnes Foundation houses one of the finest private collections of early French Modern and post-Impressionist paintings in the world. The Brandywine River Museum is famous for its unparalleled collection of works by three generations of Wyeths and its collection of American illustration, still-life and landscape paintings. The Delaware Art Museum offers distinguished collections of 19th- and 20th-century American art along with renowned collection of English Pre-Raphaelite art, and changing exhibitions.
Many galleries in Philadelphia and the countryside display works by popular and emerging artists. On the first Friday of every month, Philadelphia’s Old City neighborhood hosts “First Friday,” when more than 40 art galleries stay open late and hold special events. Philadelphia is like one big museum with more than 2,700 works of public art designed by artists from around the world. Even outdoor man made structures and spaces in Philadelphia’s 8,900 acres of parks have great art blending in three centuries of architecture. Philadelphia home to many theaters offers Broadway-style shows and original plays and musicals. Find yourself ensconced in comfort by ensuring your home away from home by clicking on the philadelphia hotel site Philadelphia does have a scintillating arts scene all year round.