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“Fate, that fatal force” is the driving theme of Tchaikovsky’s astounding Fourth Symphony, whose emotional finale builds from darkness to light. “If you cannot discover reasons for happiness in yourself,” the composer wrote, “look at others.” Yaniv Dinur, former resident conductor of the MSO, returns to lead this jubilant masterwork, alongside works by Barber and Prokofiev.

Join us for an unforgettable evening as the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) welcomes the immensely talented Ben Folds to the Bradley Symphony Center. This special performance, set for Saturday, May 3, promises to be a night of extraordinary music and collaboration. **Event Details:** - **Date:** Saturday, May 3 - **Venue:** Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee - **Start Time:** 7:30 PM **About the Performance:** Emmy-award nominated composer, singer-songwriter, and pianist Ben Folds joins forces with the MSO for a spectacular showcase of musical genius. Folds, known for his vast influence on music across genres, brings his unique blend of pop rock songs to the stage, backed by the full orchestral sound of the MSO. The evening will feature pieces from his latest album, "What Matters Most," as well as highlights from his extensive career, including the chart-topping "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra." **Food & Beverage Service:** Enhance your concert experience with delicious offerings from Resonance Food Co. Available 90 minutes before the performance, our on-site full-time chefs prepare a variety of tasty treats and libations to enjoy at several bar locations throughout the venue. Don't miss this opportunity to see Ben Folds in collaboration with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra for a night of unforgettable music. Secure your tickets now and be part of a musical journey that celebrates the power of live orchestral music and groundbreaking artistry.

Musical pictures abound in this imaginative program, led by Music Director Ken-David Masur, which begins with Rossini’s galloping William Tell overture and Richard Strauss’s tone poem delighting in the pranks of a jokester named Till Eulenspiegel. An ácana is a distinctive Cuban tree revered for its strength, which composer Tania León brings to life with color, texture, and percussion; León’s rainforest is an effervescent introduction to Resphigi’s stately yet evocative Pines of Rome.

Celebrated worldwide, Carmen remains an unmissable opera that inspired a legend. Bizet’s Carmen is centered on the passionate and free-spirited Carmen, a seductive cigarette factory worker who lives by her own rules. Her love triangle with soldier Don José and bullfighter Escamillo leads to jealousy, betrayal, and tragedy. Carmen's fierce independence and tragic end make it a compelling tale of love, obsession, and fate.

Magic melodies come to life as the pop, soul, and R&B sounds of Motown and the famous hits from the Philly Sound face off in this exciting concert experience Let's Groove Tonight. Led by Broadway superstar Chester Gregory and vocal powerhouses Ashley Jayy & Brik Liam, this incredible program is full of classic hit songs made famous by The Spinners, The Stylistics, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Lou Rawls, Diana Ross, Gamble & Huff, and Percy Sledge. Philly Sound hit songs including Ain’t No Stopping Us Now, You’ll Never Find A Love Like Mine, Love Train, and You Make Me Feel Brand New share the stage with Motown smash hits including What’s Going On, I Heard It Through The Grapevine, I’m Gonna Make You Love Me, and I’m Coming Out.

Completing this season’s three-part exploration of tragic lovers Romeo and Juliet is Leonard Bernstein’s suite of Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, overflowing with familiar tunes such as “Somewhere,” “Cool,” and “Maria.” Bernstein opens the program as well when violinist Tai Murray takes the stage with his Serenade (after Plato’s Symposium), which the composer referred to as “a series of related statements in praise of love.” Finally, Bartók’s The Miraculous Mandarin — which describes a game of thievery and seduction that goes awry — was once banned from performance on moral grounds. Stefan Asbury conducts this program of vibrant stories set to music.

The MSO’s own principal cellist Susan Babini performs an unforgettable concerto by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Aaron Jay Kernis, whose expansive and haunting solo cello concerto Colored Field was inspired by a visit to a former WWII concentration camp. Later, Music Director Ken-David Masur conducts Brahms’ First Symphony, whose brilliance helped the composer step out of Beethoven’s shadow; critic Eduard Hanslick said of Brahms’s First that “...even the layman will immediately recognize it as one of the most distinctive and magnificent works of the symphonic literature.”

Music director Ken-David Masur leads the Milwaukee Symphony and Chorus in a grand season finale. Thrill to favorite selections by master composers including Wagner, Mozart, Verdi, and more.