Philadelphia Music Roundup - May 2022

Please note, due to the ongoing pandemic, some events are being cancelled, postponed, or moved online. We recommend visiting each organization’s website to find the latest details about these events.

Did we miss something? Let us know at calendar@acfphiladelphia.org.

May 2022 Events

MUSICAL FUND SOCIETY BICENTENNIAL 

The Musical Fund Society celebrated its bicentennial in 2020 with four newly commissioned works by significant American composers and will present their world premieres with leading Philadelphia ensembles on May 1, 2022 at the Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theater. Tickets are available for purchase through the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society.

The concert goes hand-in-hand with special year-long exhibits of MFS historical narrative and memorabilia—including the manuscript of the Bartok third string quartet and a lock of hair from Niccolo Paganini—at the Kislak Center in the University of Pennsylvania Library and the Edwin A. Fleisher Collection of The Free Library of Philadelphia. There also are plans for a bicentennial program book.

THE FRANCES SUITE

May 5 - 6, Intercultural Journeys presents “The Frances Suite” at the Fleisher Art Memorial. 19th century Philadelphia luminary Frances Harper's words and ideas get a vivid new portrayal through The Frances Suite. Created by composer and vocalist Ruth Naomi Floyd, and featuring poet Yolanda Wisher and violinist Diane Monroe, this musical powerhouse performance features an all-female ensemble, and explores the endurance, strength, and beauty of bold, Black, woman-led activism and artistry across the centuries.

ARS NOVA WORKSHOP 

Ars Nova Workshop has three live concerts in May. First on May 6 at the Ruba Club is Stranger Days, the acclaimed, adventurous quartet led by trumpeter Adam O’Farrill, a third-generation member of one of jazz’s most innovative family trees. Then on Sunday May 8, Ars Nova presents composer and sound artist Lea Bertucci, and the Philadelphia premiere performance of “Of Shadow and Substance,” a new piece commissioned by Ars Nova Workshop and written for an ensemble of double bass (Henry Fraser), cello (Lester St. Louis), harp (Lucia Stavros), percussion (Matt Evans) and tapes/electronics (Bertucci). Finally at the Maas Building on May 25 is the organization's 3rd Annual Fundraiser this year honoring Monnette Sudler. 

PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA & CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY

The Philadelphia Orchestra presents two concerts with new music in May. On Tuesday May 3rd the orchestra will perform Brahms v. Radiohead a symphonic synthesis of Brahms’s First Symphony and Radiohead’s album OK Computer. Then on May 19 and 21 the orchestra will perform the world premiere of Melody Eötvös’s work When It Hits The Ocean Below, commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra.

The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society presents a number of concerts featuring new music in May. On Wednesday May 4th at the American Philosophical Society the Viano Quartet with Robert Diaz will perform Caroline Shaw’s The Evergreen. On May 10, pianist Yefim Bronfman will perform Galina Ustvolskaya’s Sonata No. 4. On May 15 at the Kimmel Center, the organization presents the PCMS Gala Celebration which will include James Lee III’s Principal Brothers No. 3.

FIRE MUSEUM PRESENTS 

Fire Museum Presents continues programming unique music from Philadelphia based ensembles and beyond. On May 1st in Fishtown a triple header of Astroturf Noise, Space Whale Orchestra, and dance/music duet with Jesse Kudler and Christina Gesualdi. Then in West Philadelphia at the Rotunda the organization presents Arthur Brooks Ensemble V and Amirtha Kidambi/Matteo Liberatore Duo on Sunday May 15. And finally on May 28, Fire Museum Presents a Benefit for Community Legal Services featuring Snow Caps, Rose Thomas Bannister, and Strawberry Hands.

BOWERBIRD

Bowerbird presents four live in-person events in May. First at University Lutheran Church in University City is the J. Pavone String Ensemble on Saturday May 7. Then May 18th a film screening of Raúl Ruiz's The Golden Boat also at University Lutheran. On Friday May 20th at The Rotunda Bowerbird presents multi-instrumentalist JJJJJerome Ellis in an improvised set. On Saturday May 21 Bowerbird is pleased to present Variant 6: New Suns featuring music written for the vocal sextet.

STREAMING AND LIVE EVENTS

  • On May 5th the University of Pennsylvania Department of Music presents UPenn Composers: Yarn/Wire at Harold Prince Theater. The performance will feature works for the two percussion, two piano ensemble.

  • May 7 at The Rotunda, Event Horizon, an ambient concert featuring various electroacoustic musicians.

  • Penn Live Arts presents jazz guitarist Pasquale Grasso and Ari Roland on bass on Thursday May 19.

  • Astral Artists presents two concerts in May. May 18th is the 2022 Laureates Recital at Stotesbury Mansion.  Then on Sunday May 22 cellist Thomas Mesa performs at the American Philosophical Society. 

  • Network for New Music presents Joycean Perspectives on Sunday May 22 at Settlement Music School in South Philadlephia. There will be a special preview concert at The Rosenbach on Friday May 20th. 

  • Monday May 23, ACF Philadelphia presents an Artist to Artist Talk between Homer Jackson and David Middleton. This will be an online event.

May 2022 at a glance

CHRONOLOGICAL LISTING

ACF Philadelphia