BSR Classical Interludes, July and August 2025

Lenape Chamber Ensemble: Summer Gala Concerts
Saturdays, July 12, 19, and 26, each at 8pm
Delaware Valley University Life Sciences Building Auditorium, 700 East Butler Avenue, Doylestown

Bucks County’s resident classical ensemble has been offering a midsummer series for 38 years. Musicians and repertoire vary, but the impressive three-concert roster includes Kobi Malkin, Christine Lim, Julia Li, Cyrus Beroukhim, and Nancy Bean (violins); William Hakim, Che-Hung Chen, and William Frampton (violas); Alberto Parrini and Hai-Ye Ni (cellos); Nathaniel West (bass); Samuel Caviezel (clarinet); Emeline Chong (bassoon); Ernesto Tovar (horn); and pianist Marcantonio Barone. There are refreshments and a post-concert meet-the-artists reception.

Dolce Suono Ensemble: Two Afternoon Concerts
Sunday, July 13, 2pm
Laurel Hill Mansion, 3487 Edgley Drive, Philadelphia

Sunday, July 13, 5:30pm (free concert)
Mifflin Square Park, 500 Wolf Street, Philadelphia

This ensemble closed their regular season in June, but they return for summer fare with two concerts on the same day! Their concert at Laurel Hill Mansion in Fairmount Park (part of the Mansion’s summer series) is ticketed. Ensemble founder/flutist Mimi Stillman and percussionist Gabriel Globus-Hoenich will play a program spanning classical, Latin, and Jewish music.

Later that afternoon, the duo will be joined by pianist Ahmed Alom for a free outdoor concert in Mifflin Square Park that will feature classical and popular music by Bizet, Bolling, Velázquez, Cuong, and more. Be advised: This concert, part of “In Harmony: Chamber Music with Philadelphia’s East Asian Communities,” may be postponed in case of inclement weather.

Afternoon concerts at Laurel Hill Mansion
Sundays, July 13 and 27, August 10 and 24, each at 2pm
Laurel Hill Mansion, 3487 Edgley Drive

Laurel Hill continues its summer concert series with four offerings, all at 2pm. On July 13, they’ll present the Dolce Suono concert described above. On July 27, the series will present Philadelphia’s popular Wister Quartet. On August 10, Principally Harps!, featuring the harp duo of Mindy Cutcher and Janet Witman, will offer an opportunity to hear these instruments take center stage, as opposed to being “hidden” in the orchestra. And classical guitarist Allen Krantz will appear on August 24 in a diverse solo offering also featuring original compositions. Each concert will feature light refreshments and a post-concert opportunity to meet the artists.

Philadelphia Orchestra at the Mann Center: three concerts
Mann Center TD Pavilion, 5201 Parkside Avenue, Philadelphia

In the midst of their summer residency at the Saratoga (New York) Performing Arts Center, the Philadelphia Orchestra will play three hometown concerts at The Mann.

125 Years of the Philadelphia Orchestra
Wednesday, July 23, 8pm

Led by Assistant Conductor Naomi Woo, this concert will open with iconic music (Bach’s Toccata and Fugue and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice) from the 1940 Disney classic Fantasia, originally recorded by the orchestra in 1939, followed by Sibelius’s Symphony No. 2.

Thursday, July 24, 8pm

In conjunction with the Eagles and NFL Films, this special concert will be hosted by the “voice of the Eagles” Merrill Reese and will feature highlights of the 2024 Championship season on three giant screens. Wearing Eagles gear is encouraged!

Nas – Illmatic: Live
Friday, July 25, 8pm

Poet and rhyme-master Nas has released 14 full-length albums, eight of which were multi-platinum or platinum, and has accumulated 16 Grammy nominations. Here, conductor Steve Reineke and the orchestra team up with the iconic rapper to present his first full-length album Illmatic, which was released in 1994.

Longwood Gardens: Organ Academy Performance
Saturday, July 26, 1:30pm
Longwood Gardens Ballroom, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square

This is the culminating performance by students participating in the Longwood Organ Academy. The week-long, residential summer intensive program allows participants to study organ transcriptions on one of the world’s largest symphonic organs. Students participate in private master classes and lessons with esteemed instructors Peter Richard Conte and Alan Morrison. The concert is free with Garden admission; seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Longwood Gardens: Carillon Summer Concerts
Sundays, August 8 and 29, 6pm
Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square

Longwood also continues their magical Sunday evening outdoor series of concerts on the 62-bell, five-octave instrument that is housed in the beautiful stone Chimes Tower. The August 8 concert features Trevor Workman, carillonneur for 50 years at the Bournville Carillon in Birmingham UK. And the August 29 recital features John Widman, City Carillonneur for the City Frederick, MD, where he plays recitals year-round in the town’s Baker Park. These outdoor offerings are free with garden admission; guests can bring blankets or chairs and sit on the lawn.