NEWSLETTER
August 5 – 22, 2026
Twelve performances, artist talks, family activities, workshops and special events mark The Philadelphia Orchestra's milestone return to Saratoga Springs
Saratoga Springs, N.Y. —The Philadelphia Orchestra returns to Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, August 5, launching its 60th anniversary summer residency at SPAC. Running August 5–22, the celebrated residency features twelve performances, artist conversations, family activities, education programs, and special events honoring six decades of partnership with one of the world's great orchestras.
The first week of the residency begins with Tchaikovsky Spectacular on Wednesday, accompanied by a Family Night pre-show featuring lawn games, activities and crafts, face painting, free Stewart's ice cream, and more. The evening concludes with a spectacular fireworks display following the performance, which features live cannon fire during Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. The week also includes two Setting the Stage pre-performance conversations: Mahler scholar Morten Solvik before Thursday's Mozart & Mahler program, and Marin Alsop in conversation with Janis Ian before Friday's American Dreams with Brian Stokes Mitchell, presented in partnership with Caffè Lena. The opening week concludes with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ Part 1 in Concert on Saturday evening.
Visit spac.org for details.
Wednesday, August 5
Tchaikovsky Spectacular
5:30 p.m. – Family Night preshow with lawn games, activities & crafts, face painting, free Stewart's ice cream, reenactors, and more.
7:30 p.m. – Performance featuring live cannon fire for Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture
Immediately following the performance – Fireworks display
Thursday, August 6
Mozart & Mahler with Jeneba Kanneh-Mason
6:30 - 7 p.m. – Pre-performance talk with Morten Solvik, Producer and Host of The Mahler Hour, Vice President of the Mahler Foundation, and Founder and Artistic Director of the Mahler Festival in Austria.
7:30 p.m. – Performance led by conductor Marin Alsop featuring pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason in her SPAC and Orchestra debut.
Friday, August 7
American Dreams with Brian Stokes Mitchell
6:15 - 6:45 p.m. – Pre-performance talk with Marin Alsop, Principal Guest Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra, & Janis Ian, GRAMMY-winning folk singer-songwriter, co-presented by Caffè Lena.
7:30 p.m. – Performance with two-time Tony® Award–winning Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell, highlighted by his narration of Aaron Copland’s Lincoln Portrait.
Saturday, August 8
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ Part 1 in Concert
7:30 p.m. – The Philadelphia Orchestra performs Alexandre Desplat’s epic score as the franchise’s seventh film is projected onto a giant screen.
All characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR.
Media are welcome to cover any of the events listed above, advance RSVPs are required to:
Kristy Ventre, kventre@spac.org
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