The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) will celebrate its momentous 90th Anniversary with two special concerts: Saturday, November 9th at 7:30 PM and Sunday, November 10th at 2:30 PM. The program will echo the orchestra’s inaugural concert from 1935, paying tribute to its rich history while looking ahead to the future of music in Buffalo.
“We are one of the oldest orchestras in the country, and we are very proud of our history,” said Music Director, and conductor of the 90th Anniversary Celebration, JoAnn Falletta.
Everyone looks forward to marking the 100th anniversaries, but we didn’t want to wait! We are celebrating 9 great decades of music for our city and our region, and in doing so we are remembering musicians and audiences of the past, applauding the orchestra members, conductors, staff, Board, and volunteers of today, and looking forward to a happy future.
Founded in 1935, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) has grown under esteemed music directors and has hosted famous guest performers like Sergei Rachmaninoff and Yo-Yo Ma. Since 1940, its home has been Kleinhans Music Hall, a National Historic Landmark known for its outstanding acoustics. Led by JoAnn Falletta, the Grammy-winning BPO performs over 120 concerts annually.
“The BPO’s artistic achievements are so far-reaching, it would be hard to pinpoint one or two,” said BPO President and Executive Director Daniel Hart.
Overall, first I would say we are proud that the BPO continues to be a cultural beacon for our community. The orchestra brings pride and recognition to our community through their role as a global ambassador through recordings, broadcasts, and tours. Second, that we have not wavered from the programming formats established in 1940 that we continue today, with regard to community outreach and education. We are an organization for all of Buffalo and we have widespread support because of these two things.
The Anniversary Celebration’s program begins with Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, a powerful piece filled with heroism and struggle. Debussy’s Nocturnes, inspired by the art of James Whistler, follows and will feature the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus. The night concludes with Brahms’ Symphony No. 3, a work that beautifully captures themes of joy, sorrow, and serenity.
“I think that the richness of the program speaks to the sophistication and personality of the young Buffalo Philharmonic,” shared Falletta, adding, “Beethoven is a fiery statement of strength, youth, and vigor. Brahms is at the very center of greatness, profundity, and respect for tradition. And Debussy’s work was (at that time) new and fascinating music – Nocturnes was written only 36 years earlier).”
Hart takes pride in the BPO’s achievements over the past 90 years and hopes for even greater accomplishments in the future. He envisions the orchestra celebrating “more of the same: unbridled creativity and artistry but with an even more diverse and larger audience, along with a stronger financial foundation that makes Buffalo a true destination for musicians.”
Audiences attending the celebrations will become a part of the BPO’s rich history while also marking the beginning of the next 90 years of excellence.“It will be a thrilling concert with great repertoire, and their presence signals the start of our future,” said Falletta. “Our concertgoers are at the heart of the Buffalo Philharmonic, and we want to celebrate with them.”
Tickets for the 90th Anniversary Celebration, which will be performed Saturday, November 9th at 7:30 PM and Sunday, November 10th at 2:30 PM, are available for purchase.