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Loosely based on a chant by the Renaissance visionary Hildegard von Bingen as well as a Tibetan Buddhist ideal, the awe-inspiring Rainbow Body by American living composer Christopher Theofanidis captures a halo around the melody, creating a wet acoustic by emphasizing the lingering reverberations one might hear in an old cathedral. Violin sensation Leonidas Kavakos, acclaimed for his matchless technique, captivating artistry, and superb musicianship, promises to enrapture us as he performs Brahms’ impassioned Violin Concerto. Said to be inspired by Brahms’ compositional style, Dvořák’s profoundly intimate Seventh Symphony comes after experiencing the deaths of his daughter and mother in which he examines the meanderings of his soul and the search for answers to elementary issues of human existence.

Pulitzer Prize and three-time GRAMMY winning living American composer Jennifer Higdon’s music is described as,“…traditionally rooted, yet imbued with integrity and freshness.” Her evocative orchestral work blue cathedral was composed soon after the passing of her brother, AndrewBlue. Higdon notes, “As I was writing this piece, I found myself imagining a journey through a glass cathedral in the sky….This piece represents the expression of the individual and the group...our inner travels and the places our souls carry us, the lessons we learn, and the growth we experience.” French pianist extraordinaire Jean-Yves Thibaudet will perform Ravel’s Piano Concerto in GMajor. Chicago Classical noted, “Few keyboard artists embody Ravel’s blend of supple elegance and unbridled bravura so naturally and effortlessly.” Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony has an overwhelmingly uplifting, enthusiastic spirit that is steeped in wartime patriotism. Prokofiev indicated this work is, “…very important not only for the musical material that went into it, but also because I was returning to the symphonic form after a break of 16 years. The Fifth Symphony is the culmination of an entire period in my work. I conceived of it as a symphony on the greatness of the human soul.

Composed during a revelatory and prolific time in Beethoven’s life between 1804 to 1806 while simultaneously experiencing profound deafness, Beethoven’s sole Violin Concerto is transformative in form, style, and virtuosity. Steeped inEnlightenment ideals, Beethoven was compelled to push his art form to new heights. From the very opening measure of the solo violin, one can hear that he is launching us into the new era of the Romantic period with vastly new treatment in how concerti allow soloists to dazzle with greater depth and brilliance. Bringing this remarkable concerto to life is American phenom Gil Shaham, one of the foremost violinists of our time who embodies flawless technique combined with inimitable warmth and generosity of spirit who is sought after throughout the world for concerto appearance with leading orchestras and conductors.

Back by popular demand, American pianist Garrick Ohlsson is known worldwide as a musician of magisterial interpretive and technical prowess. Join us for what promises to be a masterful performance of Rachmaninoff’s most celebrated, intensely impassioned Second Piano Concerto composed during the turn of the century. “Melody is the music and the foundation of all music,” said Rachmaninoff. During one of his tours in the United States, he noted what still holds true today, “These Americans cannot get enough of it.”

One of the most versatile, highly respected, and best-reviewed artists of her generation, pianist Anne-Marie McDermott, known especially for her brilliant interpretations of Classical and early Romantic repertoire, will be our featured soloist in Beethoven’s sublime First Piano Concerto. Music critics shower her with praise, one noting, “Anne-Marie McDermott plays with both technical virtuosity and evident joy. The music comes alive under her fingers.”

Pianist Kevin Kenner joins Music Director Gerard Schwarz for The Encore at The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. The evening begins with Brahms’ lively “Academic Festival Overture,” setting the tone with a side-by-side orchestral experience. Kenner will then showcase his exceptional skills in Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, a piece renowned for its lyrical beauty and technical brilliance. The concert will culminate with Beethoven’s iconic Symphony No. 5, a powerful and triumphant work that has resonated through the ages.