On June 8, Verizon Hall, the group’s home since 2001, was rechristened in honor of Marian Anderson, the legendary Philadelphian who broke the color barrier at the Metropolitan Opera. In between that event, Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducted semi-staged concert performances of the enduringly popular La Bohème with a boldface cast of soloists.

The world may know Nézet-Séguin primarily through his work in opera, but in the City of Brotherly Love, you’re more likely to find him helming a Bruckner symphony than a verismo masterwork. Perhaps the combination of such novelty and the name recognition of Puccini’s classic led to sold-out performances: rarely on a summer weekend with perfect weather have I seen this hall packed to the rafters. The forces often delivered the thrilling immediacy that opera can provide, although the results were not always pitch perfect…

Click here to read the full review at Parterre Box.