Composer

Outspoken

The Church of St. John the Divine

Much has been written about the riot that disrupted the 1913 world premiere of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. What incited such a reaction? Was it the music or the choreography? Was it the subject matter (human sacrifice), or was it personal? No one knows for sure, but by 1940, Walt Disney saw fit to include the piece in his feature film Fantasia. Today, The Rite of Spring isn’t quite so shocking but delivers a thrilling sound experience in the hands of a great orchestra. This week, ASO Music Director Laureate Robert Spano conducts Stravinsky’s masterpiece and welcomes the return of American composer Jonathan Leshnoff for the world premiere of his oratorio Sacrifice of Isaac.



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Robert Spano + Rite of Spring

Atlanta Symphony Hall

Music Director Christopher Zimmerman brings his Vietnamese musical friends and colleagues to Fargo-Moorhead! 

Masterworks 4 The Four Seasons  of Vietnam & Tchaikovsky

North Dakota State University

Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony, known for its smooth and long-lined intensity was a huge success with both audiences and critics alike and has remained popular due to its beautiful lyricism and dramatic ferocity. Blessed with “poetic and sensitive pianism” and a “wondrous sense of color”, Grammy-nominated pianist Joyce Yang captivates audiences with her virtuosity, lyricism, and interpretive sensitivity. Yang returns to join the ASO in her performance of Jonathan Leshnoff’s stirring Piano Concerto.

Ravishing Rachmaninoff

UAB’s Alys Stephens Center

AMFS alum Gil Shaham returns to Aspen for a recital with Music Director Robert Spano at the piano. His impeccable technique, radiant stage presence, and infectious joy in music-making have made him one of the foremost violinists in the world and an audience favorite. Here he opens with one of Bach’s sonatas for violin and keyboard with its beautiful, aria-like first movement. The world premiere of Jonathan Leshnoff’s violin sonata will be especially welcomed by those who remember Gil’s Aspen performance of Leshnoff’s second violin concerto, which was enthusiastically received and praised for its lyricism, imagination, and heart. Brahms dedicated his third violin sonata to the pianist and conductor Hans von Bülow, a champion of Brahms’s work. It’s full of drama and inspired melodies, and contains one of the composer’s most exquisite slow movements. Hear one of the great violinists of our time in contrasting works from three centuries!

Recital: Gil Shaham and Robert Spano

Aspen Meadows Resort

This platinum anniversary concert highlights The Symphony’s brilliant principal players in Concerto Grosso, American composer Jonathan Leshnoff’s work, previously commissioned for our 60th. Violín soloist and multi-Grammy© nominee Philippe Quint brings his imaginative approach to Mendelssohn’s gorgeous Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64, one of the most prominent and highly regarded works in the concerto repertoire for violín, while Johannes Brahms’ monumental Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 – which took the composer 21 years of revisions to declare ready for public performance in 1876 – will bring the evening – and our 70th Anniversary Subscription Season – to a triumphant close.

Platinum Sounds: The Symphony Turns 70

Granada Theatre

Scheherazade

We begin with Michael Stern making his MSO debut as guest conductor leading Jonathan Leshnoff’s Rush for Orchestra, a driving and exciting work that builds a tremendous amount of energy throughout. Garrick Ohlsson, an audience and orchestra favorite, makes his eighth appearance with us performing Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto, a romantic masterpiece infused with the spirit of his Norwegian homeland. Dmitri Shostakovich’s powerful Symphony No. 5, which he humbly described as “the practical answer of a Soviet artist to justified criticism” in a subtle and bitter reaction to the Russia of Joseph Stalin, brings this concert to a close.

Momentum

Overture Center for the Arts

Experience the profound depth and uplifting spirit of Mahler’s Resurrection with the Santa Rosa Symphony, under the baton of Music Director Francesco Lecce-Chong. This monumental concert series, taking place at the prestigious Weill Hall, Green Music Center, promises an unforgettable journey through Mahler's exploration of life, death, and the beauty of the afterlife. The performances are scheduled for December 7, 8, and 9, 2024, offering audiences a chance to immerse themselves in the grandeur of Mahler’s revered masterpiece, Symphony No. 2 in C minor/E-flat major, "Resurrection".

The concert will open with the world premiere of Jonathan Leshnoff’s "Warum hast du gelitten", a piece inspired by Mahler’s own texts and letters to his wife, Alma, and promises to be a compelling start to the evening. The Santa Rosa Symphony will be joined by a talented lineup of soloists including soprano Esther Tonea, mezzo-soprano Gabrielle Beteag, and the Santa Rosa Symphony Choral Director Jenny Bent, enhancing the performance with their exceptional vocal artistry.

Concertgoers are also invited to enrich their experience by attending the free Concert Conversations with Francesco Lecce-Chong, held before each performance. These discussions offer fascinating insights into the music and are open to all Classical Series concert ticket holders.

Tickets for this classical series are highly anticipated, with season subscriptions currently available and single tickets going on sale July 29, 2024. Special ticket offers are available for youths aged 7-17 and college students, ensuring accessibility for all ages to this cultural highlight.

Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the Santa Rosa Symphony’s presentation of Mahler’s Resurrection, a concert that promises to be a moving exploration of the themes of life and rebirth through the power of music.

Mahler’s Resurrection

Green Music Center

Immerse yourself in an evening of exquisite musical virtuosity with the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra's presentation of "La Mer" during their Masterworks 5 concert. This captivating event promises to be a tour de force, showcasing the breathtaking talents of the DSSO musicians through a lineup of remarkable compositions.

The concert opens with the enchanting melodies of Chopin’s famous Piano Concerto No.1, setting the stage for an unforgettable musical journey. The evening continues with the Minnesota premiere of Jonathan Leshnoff’s Symphony No. 4, subtitled "Heichalos," a piece that explores mystical encounters across higher realms, from the enveloping darkness of the first room to the profound love song between humanity and God in the second part.

The highlight of the evening, Claude Debussy’s "La Mer," offers a vivid portrayal of the sea and its ever-changing waves. This masterpiece of musical Impressionism bursts with orchestral color and originality, promising to leave the audience spellbound.

Join us for this extraordinary concert on March 1st, from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM, at the DECC Symphony Hall, located at 350 Harbor Dr, Duluth, MN 55802. Experience the power and beauty of live orchestral music and support the DSSO's vision of creating a stronger community through the power of music.

Tickets are available for purchase now. Don't miss this opportunity to witness the virtuosity of the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra in an evening that celebrates the brilliance of orchestral music.

La Mer

Duluth Entertainment Convention Center

Join us for a captivating musical journey with the Greenwich Symphony on May 31 & June 1, 2025, at the Performing Arts Center at Greenwich High School, located at 10 Hillside Road, Greenwich, CT. Experience the magic of classical music under the baton of esteemed conductor Stuart Malina, featuring performances on Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 3:00 pm.

This special concert series will showcase the talents of the Greenwich Choral Society, led by Dr. Christine Howlett, conductor, and organist Jonathan Vaughan. The evening promises an unforgettable auditory experience with Jonathan Leshnoff's "String Quartet No. 3" performed by the Miller-Kahn Quartet, culminating in the powerful and moving "Symphony No. 9 Choral" by Ludwig van Beethoven.

The Greenwich Choral Society, known for its excellence in performance, collaborates with professional orchestras and soloists to bring high-quality musical experiences to the audience. Having graced stages in New York City at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall and St. Patrick's Cathedral, and performed alongside notable symphonies, the Choral Society brings its rich history and musical expertise to this event.

Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty of classical music performed by talented musicians in a setting that promises to be both grand and intimate.

Jonathan Leshnoff

Composer

Events

Upcoming events

15 - 17 Nov, 2024

Momentum · Madison Symphony Orchestra

7 - 9 Dec, 2024

Mahler’s Resurrection · Santa Rosa Symphony

Mar 1, 2025

La Mer · Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra

May 31 - Jun 1, 2025

GSO May & June Concert 2025 · Greenwich Symphony Orchestra

Past events

Nov 2, 2024

Outspoken · ROCO

16 - 18 May, 2024

Robert Spano + Rite of Spring · Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

About

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