This program offers a shining homage to French mélodies from the Belle Époque in a highly anticipated rendezvous with soprano Véronique Gens. Let yourself be swept away by the poetry of the songs and the vocal elegance and refined artistry of one of today’s foremost interpreters of French mélodies. A must-see concert for aficionados of music and French song.

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Véronique Gens and the French Mélodie

Place des Arts

Under the baton of Seattle Symphony Associate Conductor Sunny Xia, brilliant Dutch musician Simone Lamsma makes her Benaroya Hall debut performing one of the all-time violin classics, Tchaikovsky’s glorious Violin Concerto. Tchaikovsky was inspired to write this thrilling Romantic composition during a stay on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland. He worked with his former student and object of infatuation Iosif Kotek, to whom he wished to dedicate the piece, though he changed his mind for fear of gossip. Xia also conducts Dvořák’s folk melody-filled Eighth Symphony, which evokes the pastoral beauty of the composer’s native Bohemia with tempestuous passion and grace.

Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto

Benaroya Hall

Violins whisper like the wind on a stormy night, the brass section pierces through the orchestra like flashes of lightning, and cellos and basses tremble, spreading unease… In just a few bars, certain pieces conjure an atmosphere perfectly suited to a time of year when terror and death are embraced rather than feared. Under the baton of Naomi Woo, Liszt’s diabolical Mephisto Waltz, Mussorgsky’s haunting Night on Bald Mountain, Verdi’s enchanting Witches’ Dance from Macbeth and Augusta Holmès’s epic Andromeda bring timeless stories and legends to life.

Symphonic Spells

Mercier Public Library

Paroisse Notre Dame de l'Annonciation

Paroisse St-Joachim de Pointe-Claire

An unforgettable evening of passion, drama, and music, Star-Crossed Symphony brings to life some of the most poignant love stories in classical music, featuring powerful performances and stunning orchestral works. Augusta Holmes’s La Nuit e L’Amour is known for its lush musical texture. Concertmaster Genaro Medina will capture the longing and desire in Meditation from Thaïs by Massenet.

Professional actors Oliver Palmer and Cora Cadman will blend the power of Shakespeare with the beauty of orchestral sound in Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet.

Don't miss this captivating performance, where love and longing are expressed through the language of music.

Star-Crossed Symphony

Mishler Theatre

This tip is on the house: You can't eat sugar with sugar in the morning, then drink sugar and think that was breakfast. No, no, dear audience, be sensible. But whoever says caution...

FATE

Mannheimer Rosengarten

Guest Concert

Fruit Hall

Season Opening Sunday!

Blennerhasset School

Season Opening Night!

Clay Center

An all-French programme whose first half – 150 years after the composer’s death – celebrates the bright, exotic colours conjured by Bizet. As well as a suite from his incidental music for ‘The Girl from Arles’, we hear the fantasy for violin and orchestra featuring music – including the famous ‘Habanera’ – from his best-loved opera, reimagined with explosive virtuosity by Sarasate. South Korean violinist Inmo Yang makes his Proms debut in the seductive, mercurial mantle of Bizet’s Gypsy-heroine. Saint-Saëns’s spectacular Symphony No. 3 puts the 9,999 pipes of the Royal Albert Hall organ (nicknamed the ‘Voice of Jupiter’) in the spotlight at the climax of this monumental work, and there’s more musical drama from gods and sea monsters in Augusta Holmès’s tone-poem Andromède.

Saint-Saëns’s ‘Organ’ Symphony

Royal Albert Hall

Pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet joins The Philadelphia Orchestra for Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand. The evening, conducted by Stéphane Denève, also features Holmès’s enchanting “La Nuit et l’amour” from Ludus pro patria and Musorgsky’s timeless Pictures from an Exhibition.

Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4

Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater

Family concert: Wonder world orchestra

Vienna Music Society

Young hearts run free: Felix Mendelssohn, Augusta Holmès and Erich Korngold all showed dazzling talent at an early age. Each followed their instincts, writing music that blazed with colour in a tumultuous and often hostile world. And the BBC Symphony Orchestra celebrates them all today, in this keenly awaited debut appearance from the dynamic young French conductor Marie Jacquot.

Jacquot conducts Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto

Barbican Centre

French favorites meet new wonders, led by guest conductor Sunny Xia! While all three French works were written within a decade in the late 19th century, only two⁠—Debussy’s Petite Suite and Fauré’s Pélleas et Mélisande⁠—entered the repertoire. It took more than another century for the music of Augusta Holmès to be discovered, including the lush La nuit et l’amour, an interlude from her larger work inspired by the work of French painter Puvis de Chavannes. Jessie Montgomery’s Starburst, commissioned by the Sphinx Organization for its Virtuosi, sparkles like the formation of the astronomical phenomenon itself.

French Impressions

Catalina Foothills High School

California-based French conductor Ludovic Morlot celebrates the music of his native land with two masterworks by his great 19th century compatriot Camille Saint-Saëns: the Third Violin Concerto, written for the great Spanish virtuoso Sarasate and brimming with sweet melodies; and the composer’s most famous symphony, known as the Organ Symphony for its sumptuous organ writing which dramatically extends and deepens the colors of the orchestra. It's the ideal music to celebrate the fabulous new sound of our own completely renovated Robert Morton pipe organ in Jacobs Music Center!

Saint-Saëns’ Violin Concerto and Organ Symphony

Jacobs Music Center

**Symphonie Fantastique by The Philadelphia Orchestra**

Join us for an unforgettable performance of Berlioz's most famous work, "Symphonie fantastique," a mesmerizing tale of love and madness that continues to captivate audiences worldwide. This enchanting program features the exceptional talents of French conductor Stéphane Denève and renowned cellist Gautier Capuçon, bringing to life a vivid connection with composers uniquely identified with their country.

**Performance Details:**
- **Dates and Times:**
  - Friday, November 22, 2024, at 2:00 PM
  - Saturday, November 23, 2024, at 8:00 PM
- **Location:** Verizon Hall, newly rededicated as Marian Anderson Hall, home of The Philadelphia Orchestra.
- **Conductor:** Stéphane Denève
- **Soloist:** Gautier Capuçon, Cello
- **Program:**
  - Augusta Holmès: La Nuit et l’amour Interlude, from Ludus pro patria
  - Guillaume Connesson: Cello Concerto (U.S. premiere)
  - Hector Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique

**About the Performance:**
Experience the U.S. premiere of Connesson's virtuosic Cello Concerto, a work celebrated for its exuberant colors and technical brilliance, perfectly showcasing Capuçon's impeccable taste and Romantic ardor. Under the baton of Stéphane Denève, known for his fabulous ear and mastery of scores, this program promises an evening of emotional depth and musical excellence.

**Tickets and Subscription Packages:**
This performance is available as part of the 2024-25 Subscription Package, offering magnificent programming and exclusive subscriber benefits. Choose from packages including Friday Matinee A, Saturday Evening B, or Create Your Own for a personalized concert experience.

**Additional Information:**
- Programs, artists, dates, prices, and availability are subject to change.
- For ticket sales and subscriber services, please contact:
  - Ticket Sales: 215.893.1999
  - Subscriber Services: 215.893.1955
  - Group Sales: 215.893.1968
  - Donor Services: 215.893.3151

Don't miss this opportunity to witness a masterful blend of storytelling and symphonic music at the Kimmel Center's Verizon Hall. Reserve your seats now for a musical journey with The Philadelphia Orchestra that promises to be both fantastique and unforgettable.

Symphonie fantastique

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

Studio Recitals feature students who all study with the same faculty instructor. These young artists represent their studio with a program curated by their teacher.

Voice Studio Recital: Susanne Mentzer

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

In 1866, the composer Hermann Zenta published one of his first works, a charming French "Mélodie". Never heard of him? No wonder! Behind the male pseudonym is Augusta Holmès, born in Paris in 1847. With this little trick, she tried to counter the prejudices of her contemporaries, who simply denied women any creativity. Nevertheless, she took private lessons from César Franck, one of the central figures in the French music world at the time. And she was not alone in this fate: Mélanie Bonis, a good ten years older than her, was also a student of Franck, but was pressured by her parents to marry her. And she also used a pseudonym as a composer: Mélanie became the gender-neutral Mel. And Charlotte Sohy, also born in Paris in 1887, was forced to resort to a similar maneuver and initially signed her works with the name of her grandfather, Charles Sohy. The 2nd Philharmonic Concert is also intended as a contribution to the rediscovery of these unique and strong artistic personalities. And with Debora Waldman, a conductor is at the podium who is very familiar with what was once a male domain. The Brazilian-Israeli conductor, who began her career as Kurt Masur's assistant, is making her debut with the Duisburg Philharmonic.

Strong Women

Philharmonie Mercatorhalle

The pictures Modest Mussorgsky saw at an exhibition in 1874 were fantastical and surreal – uniting objects and animals, poetic atmosphere and architectural precision.
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s Prom under Kazuki Yamada presents a rare opportunity to hear the music those images inspired in Mussorgsky in the picturesque orchestration by Proms founder-conductor Henry Wood, which pre-dates Ravel’s by seven years. Ravel fans can revel in the enchanted world of his fairy-tale ballet Mother Goose.

Prom 43: Pictures at an Exhibition

British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor dazzles his way through Liszt’s colorful First Piano Concerto. The program begins with Roland furieux, a symphonic poem by Augusta Holmès, a composer with close ties to Liszt and Saint-Saëns in the late 19th century. Indianapolis born conductor Kazem Abdullah concludes with Saint-Saëns brilliant organ symphony, a piece that was dedicated to Liszt. 

Liszt and Saint-Saëns

Hilbert Circle Theatre

Rediscovering Women Composers

Hanger Farm Arts Centre

Join us for an evening of excitement and beauty as we celebrate the month of love!  Setting the mood, the concert opens with the highly romantic The Night and The Love by Augusta Holmés.  Alberto Ginastera’s intimate Variaciones concertantes will showcase the extraordinary talent in your Spartanburg Philharmonic, featuring soloists throughout the orchestra culminating in an energetic finale.

Beethoven: Symphony No. 4

Converse University

Featuring excerpts from the most famous space soundtrack of them all – Star Wars – there are also awe-inspiring sounds from 2001: A Space Odyssey and starry music celebrating the wonder of the night sky. Closer to home, you might also be spooked and surprised along the way by myths and legends from our own planet; a ghostly fiddler, a flame-coloured bird from Russian folklore and trolls from the Norwegian mountains. An unforgettable journey powered by the thrilling sounds of a full symphony orchestra.

Out of this World: A Family Concert

Saffron Hall

Following Brahms’s melancholic Tragic Overture and lyrical Concerto No. 1, the stage is set for hope and sensuality. Augusta Holmès’s symphonic poem La Nuit et l’amour, recalling Wagner, was written in the Romantic style with an emphasis on melody. Finally, Schumann’s first symphony, also known as the Spring Symphony, evokes flowers and colours in bloom. 

From Soloist to Maestro

Église catholique Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs

Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal

St. Joachim of Pointe-Claire Church

In 2014, clarinetist Anthony McGill and his brother, flutist Demarre McGill, were featured artists in residence at Bowling Green University. When pianist Michael McHale joined them in concert for the first time, it was immediately clear that the trio would have a great future making music together. This recital includes two of the three wind sonatas that Poulenc composed at the end of his life. Both the flute and clarinet sonatas are full of the composer’s characteristic charm, elegance, and buffoonery. The program also includes a fascinating potpourri of short works for this unusual trio of instruments.

Recital: McGill McHale Trio

Aspen Meadows Resort

The finale of our 30th anniversary season begins with the pulsating energy of Libby Laren’s Overture for the End of a Century. At the heart of the program is a world premier by extraordinary cellist and composer Andrew Yee, “Briefly Gorgeous.” Finally, our season comes full circle with the work of another singular voice in American music, Duke Ellington. Ellington’s The River follows the journey of water from spring to brook, lake to falls, river to sea, and earthly element to a symbol of transformation and rebirth.

#135: Seasons

St. Catherine University

You’ll hear sparkling works by Czech and French female composers, audience favorites like Coleridge-Taylor’s Christmas Overture and Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride, plus a few surprises sure to make your spirits bright. And don’t miss the annual audience sing-along, hosted by CEO & President Sidney P. Jackson, complete with glowing luminaria lighting our hall in harmony.

Holidays of Hope

Mandel Hall

North Central College

Rheingoldhalle Mainz

Soprano Christina Nilsson is a familiar guest at Konserthuset Stockholm. Most recently, she appeared in February 2025 as soloist with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra in Mahler’s Symphony No. 4. She also made a highly acclaimed debut in the title role of Verdi’s Aida at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. On this occasion, we hear her in a selection of songs by Richard Strauss.

Strauss and Elgar

Stockholm City Hall

On Valentine’s Day, VSO welcomes Grammy Award-winning violinist Jennifer Koh to perform Philip Glass’ Violin Concerto No. 1 in an eclectic concert mixing American and Romantic music. A student of VSO’s fourth music director Jaime Laredo, Koh is a hugely in-demand performer of contemporary violin repertoire with premieres of more than 100 works composed especially for her. Glass’ Violin Concerto No. 1, one of the composer’s most often performed works, is preceded by Frank Zappa’s fast-paced, riveting piece from his 1993 album The Yellow Shark. For the romantic at heart, lush orchestral suites from Georges Bizet’s Carmen and music by 19th C. French composer Augusta Holmès complete the afternoon concert.

VSO at the Flynn: Love Notes

The Flynn

On Valentine’s Day, VSO welcomes Grammy Award-winning violinist Jennifer Koh to perform Philip Glass’ Violin Concerto No. 1 in an eclectic concert mixing American and Romantic music. A student of VSO’s fourth music director Jaime Laredo during her studies at the Curtis Institute, Koh is a hugely in-demand performer of contemporary violin repertoire with premieres of more than 100 works composed especially for her. Glass’ Violin Concerto, one of the composer’s most often performed works, is preceded by Frank Zappa’s fast-paced, riveting piece from his 1993 album The Yellow Shark. For the romantic at heart, lush orchestral suites from Georges Bizet’s Carmen and music by 19th C. French composer Augusta Holmès complete the afternoon concert.

VSO: Love Notes

Instantly recognizable thanks to its use throughout pop culture, Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet soars with tender poetry and heart-on-sleeve passion. Blazing with originality and raw intensity, Sofia Gubaidulina’s In Tempus Praesens (“For the Present Time”) is one of those works that must be witnessed live, and a spectacular experience awaits you with rising-star violinist Alexi Kenney. And, get swept away on a sea of glorious sound in Scriabin’s earth-shattering Poem of Ecstasy.

Augusta Holmès

Events

Upcoming events

19 - 20 Dec, 2025

Holidays of Hope · Chicago Sinfonietta

Jan 7, 2026

Guest Concert · Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz

Jan 15, 2026

Strauss and Elgar · Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra

Feb 14, 2026

VSO at the Flynn: Love Notes · Vermont Symphony Orchestra

Feb 14, 2026

VSO: Love Notes · The Flynn

Past events

12 - 13 Nov, 2025

Véronique Gens and the French Mélodie · Orchestre symphonique de Montréal

6 - 8 Nov, 2025

Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto · Seattle Symphony

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