The Philadelphia Orchestra has programmed a concert performance of the Strauss opera “Salome†for next season. Now, they are calling in the experts. The orchestra said on Monday it would be collaborating with Opera Philadelphia to create a semi-staged version of the work, to be performed in May 2014. Kevin Newbury will direct and Vita Tzykun will design the production, to be performed in the orchestra’s home, Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center, which has no proscenium. “It’s a bit of a feat to try to imagine a theatrical mash-up, if you will,†said Allison Vulgamore, the orchestra’s chief executive and president.
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the orchestra’s music director and an experienced opera conductor, will lead the performances. Ms. Vulgamore said there was little overlap between the opera and orchestra audiences, and the collaboration in part was designed to bring opera lovers into the concert hall and symphony lovers to Opera Philadephia shows. It was the first joint endeavor by the two parties, although the Philadelphia Orchestra has presented concert versions of operas in the past.
