The Princeton Symphony Orchestra Presents the 'Princeton Festival'
The Princeton Festival was first founded in 2004, beginning its inaugural season in 2005 with four performances of Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd in the Kirby Theatre at the Lawrenceville School and a performance by the Concordia Chamber Players. It has since grown to a nearly month-long event featuring opera, musical theater, baroque and chamber music, and a constantly evolving selection of other genres, including dance, world music, orchestral pops, and choral concerts.
In 2021, the Princeton Festival merged with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO), led by Edward T. Cone Music Director Rossen Milanov, creating the wonderful atmosphere so familiar to us now. Kicking off on June 6th, 2025, and running through June 21st on the grounds of the picturesque Morven Museum & Garden, the Princeton Festival features an array of entertainment.
Milanov says of the many offerings, “This year’s Festival will amaze you with its breadth and variety of musical experiences. Whether you like Classical, Baroque, vocal, pop music or dance, and opera, I guarantee you that you will find it in our Festival line-up. Prepare to be transported by exquisite music in a beautiful setting, surrounded by nature.”
Opening weekend begins on Friday, June 6th, with singers Capathia Jenkins, Broadway star and solo artist, and Ryan Shaw, three-time Grammy®-nominated artist singing iconic hits such as Billy Joel’s “Movin’ Out,” Sonny Bono’s “I Got You Babe,” Otis Redding’s “RESPECT” and more led by conductor Lucas Waldin and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra. The event is billed as ICON: The Voices That Changed Music.
The following day, June 7th, will see world-renowned soprano Renée Fleming join the PSO. The 5-time Grammy® Award-winning soprano will sing her favorite arias and songs with Rossen Milanov conducting. The event is simply billed as Renée Fleming with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra.
Sunday, June 8th, sees a subtle shift in tone with a more family-friendly feel, with the free event: Community Day. Community Day begins with Yoga in the Garden, a Festival Farmer’s Market, Instrument Petting Zoo, a Community Drum Circle, Musical Storytime, a Conducting Booth, and more. All of this before 1:30 PM! The day will close with the ticketed performance of Sondehim in the City with Melissa Errico.
While entertainment abounds, there are opportunities to learn as well. PSO BRAVO! is a community enrichment program responsible for the interactive programs offered throughout The Princeton Festival. Many of which are centered on the festival’s production of Tosca. One example is the free opera bootcamp titled Music That Tells a Story. Over the course of five hours, participants will learn about opera voices and vocal health in addition to taking part in acting exercises to explore the methods that vocalists use to develop their characters. The workshop is led by Opera Delaware company artists, the lead of Tosca, and Princeton University Professor Rochelle Ellis.
Another is the free event Exploring Tosca, where the Chair of the Department of Performance Studies at Westminster Choir College, Margaret Cusack, and the Tosca Stage Director Eve Summer will provide an in-depth look at the Princeton Festival’s production. Audiences can expect to learn about the plot, what to watch and listen for onstage, as well as hear special commentary from the director. The opportunity to engage with the professionals will follow in the Q&A session immediately afterward.
The full performance of Puccini’s Tosca will take place on June 13th, 15th, and 17th, though festival organizers advise that this production contains mature themes and is not recommended for children under the age of 13. The opera, directed by Eve Summer and conducted by Rossen Milanov, is sung in Italian with English supertitles. Toni Marie Palmertree will star as Floria Tosca
The complete 2025 Princeton Festival performance line-up is as follows:
- Friday, June 6 at 7 PM – ICON: The Voices That Changed Music
- Saturday, June 7 at 8 PM – Renée Fleming with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra
- Sunday, June 8 at 4 PM – Sondheim in the City with Melissa Errico
- June 12 at 7 PM (Trinity Church) – Tessa Lark, Violin: Stradgrass
- June 13, 15 & 17 – Puccini’s Tosca (4 PM Sunday matinee and other performances at 7 PM)
- Saturday, June 14 at 7 PM – An Evening of Pas de deux with American Repertory Ballet and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra
- Wednesday, June 18 at 3 PM and 7 PM (Trinity Church) – The Sebastians: Baroque Brilliance
- Thursday, June 19 at 7 PM – Masters of Soul: A Motown Revue
- Friday, June 20 at 7 PM – Viva Vivaldi! with Daniel Rowland and Maja Bogdanović
- Friday, June 21 at 7 PM – ARRIVAL from Sweden: The Music of ABBA
The Festival’s outdoor venue features concessions and space for attendees to gather outdoors before performances and during intermissions. Main-stage events are presented in a state-of-the-art, rain-proof performance pavilion, which will be expanded this year to include additional seating to accommodate growing audiences.
The two-week Princeton Festival includes three weekends of opera, concerts, and dance, with additional music-filled evenings and ancillary events during the week. The complete performance line-up can be found online, with tickets available by phone at (609) 497-0020 and via the Festival website at princetonsymphony.org/festival.
