Features

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Photo from above and behind the Anderson Hall stage showing the practicing orchestra and a mostly empty house of red seats

Philadelphia Orchestra open rehearsals take music-lovers of all ages behind the scenes of the symphony

A symphonic sneak peek

What goes on as the Philadelphia Orchestra, under the direction of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, prepares for a performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 9? Linda Holt visits to learn more about a program that brings donors and students together behind the scenes.
Linda Holt

Linda Holt

Features 6 minute read
8 people, many using vintage typewriters, visit happily inside the small typewriter store with more visible out the window

The analog revolution is happening at Passyunk Avenue’s Philly Typewriter

Why is Philly the world’s best city for a typewriter company?

Bryan Kravitz and Bill Rhoda never thought their South Philly typewriter shop would thrive in the 21st century, but it did, especially after the pandemic pause brought a surge of new customers hungry for tactile technologies. Erin Dohony visits.
Erin Dohony

Erin Dohony

Features 6 minute read
Collage of headshots of the five BSR team members

The 2024 BSR Year-End Recommend: books, films, TV, music, and more

Build your 2025 lists with personal tips from the BSR team

The BSR Year-End Recommend is back for 2024! Our team shares their favorite movies, books, TV shows, podcasts, newsletters, music, and more.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Features 8 minute read
Book cover. Title in scrolls above & below a dramatic vintage illustration of a man rescuing a woman from a fire

Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia, by Peter Schmitz

Exploring the rich past, present, and future of Philly theater

Peter Schmitz is a leading expert on the history of our theater scene, and his new book, Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia, takes us from the US premiere of Hamlet to the TLA and beyond. Cameron Kelsall takes the tour.
Cameron Kelsall

Cameron Kelsall

Features 4 minute read
Close-up photo of about two dozen members of the girls’ choir, in matching red dresses, singing together.

Meet the young Philly singers who help make The Nutcracker magical

The voices behind the Philadelphia Ballet’s “Waltz of the Snowflakes”

Each year, Philadelphia Ballet's Nutcracker is a holiday destination for area families. Camille Bacon-Smith takes us behind the scenes to meet the young singers who make the show stand out.
Camille Bacon-Smith

Camille Bacon-Smith

Features 6 minute read
The browsing area, with wooden record displays in a bright white space and a vintage “budget disc o tape” sign on the wall

Media veteran Gabriel Coan’s next venture is a new record shop in Fairmount

A space for discovery and connection through music

Gabriel Coan has spent almost 30 years in the media business from coast to coast. Now he calls his new record shop in Fairmount, Records Forever, the best job he’s ever had. Emma Riverso visits.
Emma Riverso

Emma Riverso

Features 3 minute read
Sitting on a chair in the studio with a mirror behind him, Corella gestures to one side with a severe, focused expression.

Angel Corella opens up about his new Le Corsaire and 10 years at the helm of Philadelphia Ballet

“A star of his generation in dance”

Ten years ago, when Angel Corella became artistic director of Philadelphia Ballet, the company needed new ideas. As the premiere of his revamped Le Corsaire approaches, he speaks with Camille Bacon-Smith about what he brings to the company and what’s next.

Camille Bacon-Smith

Camille Bacon-Smith

Features 6 minute read
Benner, a man in his late 30s in a black button-down, smiles proudly while pointing to a mural that says your voice has power

Philly artists get out the vote with To the Polls 2024, now on view in Love Park

“If you are voting, you are hoping for the future.”

Prolific curator and Streets Dept blog founder Conrad Benner is back with To the Polls 2024, a bi-annual nonpartisan project from Mural Arts urging Philadelphians—who may decide this Presidential election—to vote. Alaina Johns visits.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Features 4 minute read

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Four grade-schoolers, two boys and two girls, smile in a hallway and hold their instruments: a cello, violins, and clarinet.

Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth opens doors to classical music careers

Diversifying the orchestra starts with the students

The Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth is celebrating eight years of its Artists’ Initiative, a program supporting young musicians whose communities need better access and representation in classical music. Thomas Hagen visits.
Thomas Hagen

Thomas Hagen

Features 4 minute read
Weiner, a white woman with brown hair in jeans and a white tank, poses smiling on an outdoor bench overlooking a bay.

Blue Stoop continues its inclusive literary mission with the Jennifer Weiner Fellowship

A new path for debut novelists

Novelists Jennifer Weiner and Emma Copley Eisenberg talk with Emma Riverso about a new fellowship from Philly's Blue Stoop that will offer a new path into the industry for under-represented debut authors.
Emma Riverso

Emma Riverso

Features 4 minute read