Members of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) warm up in preparation for the RPO Eclipse Spectacular: A Symphonic Celebration at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y., April 7, 2024.
People line up along East Broad Street outside of Blue Cross Arena waiting to get into the ROP’s Eclipse Spectacular. The event, which was held on the eve of the solar eclipse, was sold out.
Performers Ian Heitzman and Alec Barbour duel with lightsabers while the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra plays Duel of The Fates from The Phantom Menace under the direction of Jeff Tyzik.
Members of the Madrigalia Festival Chorus are seen from backstage as they prepare to perform Duel of The Fates from The Phantom Menace.
RPO Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik conducts the RPO as they perform his composition Eclipse Suit, which was commissioned for the Eclipse Spectacular concert.
A performer from Troupe Vertigo flies high over the audience in Blue Cross Arena during the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s Eclipse Spectacular.
Audience members wait for a break in the program to return to their seats.
Members of the Rochester City Ballet dance to Debussy’s Claire de Lune being performed by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.
Jherrard Hardeman, Assistant Conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, leads the directs the musicians during the Eclipse Spectacular concert.
Members of the Rochester City Ballet react as they watch a performance by Troupe Vertigo during the eclipse concert.
The final number of the Eclipse Spectacular included an appearance by all of the evening’s performers on stage.

RPO ECLIPSE SPECTACULAR: A Symphonic Celebration

Jackson Burns Bulmer

The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra presented the “RPO ECLIPSE SPECTACULAR: A Symphonic Celebration” to a sold-out crowd April 7 at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y. Along with the orchestra, the event featured performances from the Rochester City Ballet, PUSH Physical Theatre, Madrigalia, and Troupe Vertigo. It was a space-themed evening featuring music from 2001: A Space Odyssey, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Star Trek, and Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace. NASA Astronauts also presented a special message celebrating the total solar eclipse, which occurred the next day. Andreas Delfs, Jeff Tyzik, and Jherrard Hardeman conducted.