Composer

Music Director

GRAMMY Award-winning pianist Yefim Bronfman makes his Sarasota Orchestra debut as soloist in Brahms' monumental Piano Concerto No. 1. Called “a powerhouse pianist with a tone of crystalline clarity” (Los Angeles Times), Bronfman’s artistry is in high demand worldwide. The program opens with Carlos Simon’s 2020 homage to Beethoven, Fate Now Conquers, with the explosive jubilation of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony as this concert's crown.

EPSG:4326

Beethoven’s Seventh

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

Join the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for an unforgettable evening of music and celebration, featuring the world-renowned violinist Ray Chen. This special performance, set against the backdrop of the iconic Orchestra Hall, promises to be a highlight of the musical season, taking place from Friday, December 6, to Sunday, December 8, 2024.

Under the baton of Music Director Jader Bignamini, the orchestra will bring to life a diverse and vibrant program. The evening will open with Carlos Simon's "Four Black American Dances," followed by Samuel Barber's poignant "Violin Concerto," performed by the exceptional Ray Chen. The concert will also feature selections from Tchaikovsky's beloved "The Nutcracker Suite," before taking a unique turn with Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's jazz-infused arrangement of the same, promising a blend of classical grace and swing-era cool that's not to be missed.

Jader Bignamini, celebrated for his infectious passion and artistic excellence, leads the orchestra with a deep connection to both the music and the musicians, ensuring a performance that resonates with energy and emotion. Ray Chen, known for redefining what it means to be a classical musician in the 21st century, brings his remarkable musicianship and dynamic presence to the stage, guaranteeing a rendition of Barber's Violin Concerto that will be both palpable and memorable.

This event is not just a concert but a celebration of music's power to unite and inspire. It's an invitation to experience the joy and depth of classical music, brought to life by some of the most talented artists of our time. Whether you're a lifelong classical music fan or looking for an introduction to the genre, this performance is sure to leave you moved and exhilarated.

Tickets are available now, with prices starting at a range accessible to all. Don't miss this opportunity to witness the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Ray Chen in what promises to be a spectacular set of performances at Orchestra Hall, a venue renowned for its acoustics and historic charm. Join us for a night of exquisite music, and let the melodies of Carlos Simon, Samuel Barber, Tchaikovsky, Duke Ellington, and Billy Strayhorn transport you.

Ellington & The Nutcracker

Orchestra Hall

NEC Prep: Youth Philharmonic Orchestra Fall Performance

New England Conservatory

Join the Delaware Symphony Orchestra for an unforgettable afternoon of classical music as Music Director Finalist Filippo Ciabatti takes the podium at Cape Henlopen High School on Sunday, November 17, 2024, at 2:30 pm. This exceptional concert, titled "Ciabatti Conducts Beethoven Lewes," promises an enriching experience with a lineup that includes Carlos Simon's 2021 composition "Fate Now Conquers," Shostakovich's "Concerto for Violoncello No.1 in E-flat major, Op. 107" featuring the talented cellist Tommy Mesa, and culminates with Beethoven's iconic "Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67."

The concert is set to run approximately 85 minutes, plus a 20-minute intermission, ensuring an afternoon filled with captivating music that showcases the virtuosity of Shostakovich and the monumental beauty of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Under Ciabatti's direction, expect a performance that brings out the inner lines and nuances of these compositions, offering a depth and musical intensity that highlights the greatness of the music.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience the brilliance of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Filippo Ciabatti, alongside the remarkable Tommy Mesa. Secure your tickets now for a musical journey that promises to be both profound and inspiring.

Ciabatti Conducts Beethoven (lewes)

Cape Henlopen High School

Join the Delaware Symphony Orchestra for an unforgettable evening as Music Director Finalist Filippo Ciabatti takes the stage with cellist Tommy Mesa on Friday, November 15, 2024, at 7:30 pm. This captivating performance will be held at the prestigious Copeland Hall at The Grand Opera House, promising an atmosphere of unparalleled elegance and acoustics.

The night's program is a celebration of classical music's enduring power, featuring Carlos Simon's 2021 masterpiece "Fate Now Conquers," Shostakovich's virtuosic "Concerto for Violoncello No.1 in E-flat major, Op. 107," and culminating with Beethoven's monumental "Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67." This selection of works promises to showcase the technical prowess of Tommy Mesa and the interpretative depth of Filippo Ciabatti, making for a truly memorable experience.

The concert is expected to run for approximately 85 minutes, with a 20-minute intermission, allowing guests to reflect on the performance and anticipate the musical journey's continuation.

Tickets are available for purchase now. Don't miss this opportunity to witness the Delaware Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Filippo Ciabatti, a conductor whose ability to bring out the inner lines and nuances of the music has been praised for adding real depth and revealing the greatness of the compositions.

This event is made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, including TATIANA AND GERRET COPELAND, C.E. Bennett Foundation, ALFRED I. DU PONT FOUNDATION, INC., DELAWARE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AWARE FOUNDATION, CHARLES DELMAR FOUNDATION, and NOR'EASTER FOUNDATION.

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Ciabatti Conducts Beethoven (wilmington)

The Grand Opera House

Experience the grandeur of the “new” Jacobs Music Center as Music Director Rafael Payare and the Orchestra present Mahler’s towering Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection.” Distinguished soloists Angela Meade and Anna Larsson join the Symphony’s continued exploration of Mahler. The program opens with a San Diego Symphony commission from renowned American composer Carlos Simon.

Resurrections and Renewal: Mahler’s Symphony No. 2

Joan and Irwin Jacobs Music Center

Experience the captivating allure of Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto, a cornerstone of the romantic piano repertoire, performed by the Nashville Symphony under the baton of conductor Michael Francis. This concert marks Francis's debut with the Nashville Symphony, opening with Carlos Simon's "The Block," an exuberant piece that captures the vibrant energy and joyous scenery of a bustling Harlem city block. Following this, the orchestra will delight audiences with Antonín Dvořák's Slavonic Dances, Opus 72, known for their lively rhythms and rich folk melodies.

The highlight of the evening is the performance of Rachmaninoff's Concerto No. 2 for Piano and Orchestra, featuring the dynamic and fiery pianist Natasha Paremski. Renowned for her passionate interpretations of Russian repertoire, Paremski brings a unique intensity and emotional depth to Rachmaninoff's lush and dramatic concerto. This piece, celebrated for its sweeping melodies and virtuosic demands, promises to be a memorable experience, showcasing the profound synergy between soloist and orchestra.

Additionally, attendees can enrich their understanding of the evening's program by participating in "Classical Conversations," a pre-concert discussion held in the Balcony Lobby. This insightful session offers a deeper dive into the music and its historical context, enhancing the overall concert experience. Join the Nashville Symphony for an evening of extraordinary music, featuring a blend of American vibrancy, Slavic charm, and Russian romanticism.

Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto

Nashville Symphony Schermerhorn Symphony Center

### Event Description: Brahms & Dvořák - Richmond Symphony

**Event:** Brahms & Dvořák - Richmond Symphony  
**Date:** Saturday, November 2, 2024  
**Time:** 8:00 PM  
**Venue:** Carpenter Theatre  

Join the Richmond Symphony for an enchanting evening of classical music featuring the works of Brahms and Dvořák. Under the baton of esteemed conductor Valentina Peleggi, the symphony will present a captivating program that includes:

- **Carlos Simon's "Fate Now Conquers"**
- **Brahms' Violin Concerto** with the virtuoso violinist James Ehnes
- **Dvořák's Symphony No. 8**

**Pre-Concert Talk:**  
Arrive early for a free pre-concert talk at 7:00 PM to gain deeper insights into the evening's program.

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Don't miss this opportunity to experience the powerful and emotive compositions of Brahms and Dvořák performed by the Richmond Symphony. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates and more information about upcoming events.

Brahms & Dvořák

Dominion Energy Center

Celebrating its 50th season, RCO makes a case for a chamber orchestra of the 21st century with fresh pieces by Carlos Simon, Malcolm Arnold, and renowned film score composer Danny Elfman alongside a strings feature by Bartok from RCO’s first season, and a showcase for winds by Strauss foreshadowing his great operas.


A Place For Us

University of Nevada

We begin the season with a celebration of Maestro Seaton’s 10-season anniversary concert. This evening will recreate his first concert as Music Director with two iconic powerhouses by Beethoven and Tchaikovsky. The 2024 Young Artist Audition winners will be featured, along with Carlos Simon’s Fate Now Conquers, a fast-paced frenzy inspired by a passage from Beethoven’s notebook.

Iconic Beethoven and Tchaikovsky

California State University, Chico

Cascade Theatre

We continue our celebration of HSO musicians in our second concert of the season, this time celebrating Concertmaster Leonid Sigal’s twentieth year with the HSO. In this special concert, Lenny will both play and conduct the t the famous Beethoven violin concerto and conduct the remainder of the program.

Beethoven’s Violin Concerto

Belding Theater

Carlos Simon’s Four Black American Dances pays homage to the wide range of Black American dance traditions while Nathalie Joachim’s newly-penned cello concerto written for Seth Parker Woods honors the transformation of African fashion. Driving rhythms of David Baker’s Kosbro are followed by William Grant Still's Autochthonous Symphony, which portrays, in his words, “the fusion of musical cultures in North America.”

Afromodernism: Music of the African Diaspora

David Geffen Hall

Join your Macomb Symphony and Music Director Andrew Neer as we kick off our 50th season in style!!

This concert is all about Folklore and celebratory tales.

Macomb Symphony Orchestra

Macomb Center for the Performing Arts

Join your Macomb Symphony and Music Director Andrew Neer as we kick off our 50th season in style!!

Pictures Of Folklore

You know the famous four-note opening—now, be there for the full glory that is Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Imaginative, violent, and wide-ranging, this colossal crowd-pleaser thrusts the audience into Beethoven’s state of mind with roaring tension building to a triumphant, booming climax. Noseda opens the program with Strauss’ Four Last Songs featuring internationally acclaimed American soprano Rachel Willis-Sørensen along with Carlos Simon’s Four Black American Dances.

Noseda conducts Beethoven’s Fifth

Kennedy Center

Prepare yourself for a night of glamor and romance as classical music’s newest rock star Yunchan Lim performs one of the world’s greatest masterpieces, Rachmaninoff’s sweeping Piano Concerto No. 2. Experience Lim’s electrifying NSO debut at this dynamic concert that also features Ravel’s lyrical La Valse and Carlos Simon’s celebratory Four Black American Dances.

Season Opening Gala Concert

Raise a glass to a vibrant new season! Spotlight Artist and Canadian piano sensation Jan Lisiecki joins Concertmaster Jonathan Crow and Principal Cello Joseph Johnson for a work that shines a light on three soloists, Beethoven’s captivating Triple Concerto. Then, Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition invites you on an imaginative stroll through an art gallery, each note echoing the brush strokes of a different painting.

Pictures at an Exhibition

David Pecaut Square

The 92nd Season opens with Stravinsky’s iconic work with its aggressive rhythms of ritualistic chanting and foot-stamping, percussively beaten out.

The Rite of Spring

Morris Performing Arts Center

The 92nd Season opens with Stravinsky’s iconic work, “The Rite of Spring!” Its aggressive rhythms will captivate you and transform you. The program includes Carlos Simon’s “Four Black American Dances” and Poulenc’s “Les Biches.”

Join us for a rousing collection of songs and stories that celebrate and challenge the American narrative—from Jessie Montgomery’s revolutionary anthem Banner to iconic music from Copland’s Billy the Kid and more. The NSO proudly presents Here I Stand: Paul Robeson, a new commission by composer Carlos Simon and librettist Dan Harder written to honor the African American singer, actor, athlete, scholar, and fearless supporter of racial equality. Bass-baritone Morris Robinson and The Washington Chorus join us for this symphonic exploration of the ideals we strive for as a country and community, united by hope.

Eugene Rogers Conducts “EchoEs of America”

Join us for an enchanting evening with the Ivalas Quartet at the Skaneateles Festival for their "Quartet By Candlelight" performance. This special event takes place on Friday, August 23, 2024, from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 97 East Genesee St, Skaneateles, NY.

The Ivalas Quartet, celebrated for their dynamic and passionate performances, is currently the graduate quartet-in-residence at The Juilliard School and has been chosen as the Festival’s 2024 Young Artist in Residence. The evening promises a unique experience with the first half of the program presented by candlelight, embracing the Tenebrae tradition. This segment will feature meditative and spiritual music by renowned composers such as Beethoven, Osvaldo Golijov, and Carlos Simon. The second half will captivate audiences with Mendelssohn’s youthful and passionate String Quartet, Op. 13.

The program includes:
- OSVALDO GOLIJOV: Tenebrae
- BEETHOVEN: Cavatina from String Quartet, Op. 130
- Carlos SIMON: Warmth from Other Suns
- George WALKER: Lyric for Strings
- MENDELSSOHN: String Quartet, Op. 13

This event is generously sponsored by Doug and Peg Whitehouse. Individual tickets will be available for purchase starting May 1. 

Prepare for an unforgettable night of music that promises to be both reflective and exhilarating. Doors open at 7:30 pm, and seating is first come, first served. The venue offers air-conditioned comfort and cushioned church pews for an enjoyable listening experience. Light refreshments may be available for purchase during intermission.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit the Skaneateles Festival website or contact the festival office. Don't miss this opportunity to witness the Ivalas Quartet under the glow of candlelight in the beautiful setting of Skaneateles.

Ivalas Quartet: Quartet By Candlelight

First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles

This brilliantly curated program featuring music by both African and American composers, strikingly represents vocal works of the past and present. Each song reflects the beauty, humility, passion and power of each Queen being celebrated. The evening centers eight new songs written for Karen by some of today’s most acclaimed composers—Jasmine Barnes, Damien Geter, Jessie Montgomery, Shawn Okpebholo, Dave Ragland, Carlos Simon, and Joel Thompson with text by Lorene Cary, Alicia Haymer, Tsitsi Ella Jaji, Deborah D.E.E.P Mouton and Creative Collaborator for the African Queens project Jay Saint Flono.

African Queens: A Recital by Karen Slack soprano and Kevin Miller piano

Aspen Meadows Resort

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Gershwin’s iconic Rhapsody in Blue, join us on the Square for our season grand finale. Special guest pianist John Novacek joins the WCO to perform the genre-defining Rhapsody in Blue and I Got Rhythm Variations by George Gershwin. Revel in the familiar sounds of Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite and a work from Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Michael Abels.

Rhapsody in Blue

King Street corner of the Capitol Square

How does fate shape us? Carlos Simon takes a journal entry by Beethoven as the jumping off point for a work that explores the unpredictable ways of providence, while Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky channels personal crises and his own admiration for Beethoven into a fate-filled tour de force, the Fourth Symphony. Hope makes its presence known courtesy of Samuel Barber’s lyrical and openhearted Violin Concerto.

Tchaikovsky & Barber

Davies Symphony Hall

The festival reaches its grand conclusion with one of the greatest compositions of all time. Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony is made even more remarkable by the fact that, at its premiere in 1824, Beethoven was completely deaf. The triumphant work culminates with the iconic, transformative finale - the famous Ode to Joy chorus.

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9

Hult Center for the Performing Arts

Immerse yourself in the harmonious world of classical music at the String Quartet Showcase, presented by the Music Academy of the West. This enchanting evening is set to take place at the prestigious Hahn Hall on June 18, starting at 7:30 pm. As part of the Showcase Sampler Series, this event promises an unforgettable auditory experience, featuring a selection of masterpieces that have shaped the string quartet repertoire.

The program spans approximately two hours, including an intermission, and showcases works by legendary composers such as Ludwig van Beethoven, Gabriella Smith, Carlos Simon, Franz Schubert, and Gabriela Lena Frank. Highlights include Beethoven's profound "String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132" and "String Quartet No. 9 in C Major, Op. 59, No. 3, Razumovsky," alongside contemporary pieces like Smith's "Carrot Revolution" and Simon's "Warmth from Other Suns."

This showcase is not only a celebration of the string quartet's rich history but also an opportunity to explore its vibrant present and promising future. Whether you're a lifelong classical music enthusiast or new to the genre, the String Quartet Showcase offers a perfect blend of classical tradition and innovative compositions.

Tickets are available now, with community access pricing starting at FREE for ages 7-17 and regular prices beginning at $40. Don't miss this chance to support tomorrow's musicians and indulge in an evening of exquisite music. For more information and to secure your tickets, visit the Music Academy of the West's website or contact the Carsey Ticket Office at 805-969-8787.

String Quartet Showcase

Music Academy of the West

Composer Carl Orff based Carmina Burana on two dozen poems – but far from odes of love, these verses deal in lust, gambling, drinking, and the fickle hand of fate (“O Fortuna!”). Music Director Ken-David Masur joins Artistic Partner Dashon Burton and the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus as they lend their voices to this bawdy cantata. Pairing well with Orff’s epic is Carlos Simon’s Fate Now Conquers, which refers to a notebook entry written by Beethoven and explores “the unpredictable ways of fate.” Between these, the MSO showcases its own Principal Trombone Megumi Kanda in Tan Dun’s Three Muses in Video Game, a daring and spiritual concerto which challenges the trombonist to evoke three ancient Chinese musical instruments.

Carmina Burana & Fate Now Conquers

Warner Grand Theater

We close our 80th Masterworks season with a return appearance from Melissa White, the HSO’s 2023-2024 Joyce C. Willis Artist in Residence performing the soaring melodies of Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1. According to Carlos Simon, his intent for Amen! was “to re-create the musical experience of an African American Pentecostal church service that I enjoyed being part of while growing up in this denomination.” Each movement flows into the next to reflect the way the worship service flows. Inspired by the astrological characters of each planet, Holst’s The Planets bears the richness and emotional warmth of humanity, encapsulating the theme of the entire program bringing people together through the spirit of music.

The Planets

The Bushnell

Join the Arianna String Quartet for the second summer music festival subscription concert of 2024. The program features music by Carlos Simon, Max Bruch, and Claude Debussy.

Arianna String Quartet - Summer Subscription Concert Number 2

Harrigan Centennial Hall

Music Director candidate Chelsea Tipton, currently Music Director of the Symphony of Southeast Texas, opens this Masterworks Season FInale with Carlos Simon’s joyful, spontaneous, and soulful Amen! American violinist Andrew Sords then takes center stage for Max Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy. Edward Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 is a perfect match for the local graduation season, and to bring the concert to a resplendent close, Richard Strauss’s suite from his opera Der Rosenkavalier—a lush and emotive masterpiece that carries you through the heart of Vienna’s romantic operatic tradition.

Chelsea Tipton Music Director Candidate

Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts

Join the Chicago Sinfonietta for an unforgettable season finale, REVERB, featuring a lineup of works that showcase the power and energy of classical music. 
The evening begins with Chin's Subito con Forza, a  dynamic work that sets the tone for an evening. Then, if you appreciate bold and dynamic orchestral music, you won't want to miss the triumphant Symphony No. 3 by Louise Farrenc, whose brilliance as a composer is finally receiving the recognition it deserves.

Reverb

Roosevelt University

North Central College

When the 18-year-old pianist Yunchan Lim became the youngest ever winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, he launched a global phenomenon, with more than nine million views and counting of his Rach 3 performance conducted by Marin Alsop. Now the BSO Music Director Laureate welcomes Lim to present Rachmaninoff’s stunningly gorgeous Piano Concerto No. 2. Alsop continues her role as a leading champion of American music, presenting the hymn-filled Second Symphony of Ives (a work premiered by her mentor, Leonard Bernstein) along with Carlos Simon’s bluesy AMEN!

Bso: Simon, Ives, and Rachmaninoff

The Music Center at Strathmore

In 1943, the National Negro Opera Company is set to perform on a floating barge to evade racially-segregated venues. But when bad weather threatens—pushing the performance to a segregated performance hall—visionary impressaria Mary Cardwell Dawson must find a way forward.

The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson

Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

When the 18-year-old pianist Yunchan Lim became the youngest ever winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, he launched a global phenomenon, with more than nine million views and counting of his Rach 3 performance conducted by Marin Alsop.

Simon, Ives, And Rachmaninoff

Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall

NHSO Principal Pops Conductor Chelsea Tipton leads this high-energy program celebrating the orchestral music by Black composers and performers at the heart of the Harlem Renaissance.

Harlem Renaissance: Orchestral Voices

Shelton Intermediate School

In 1824, audiences experienced Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony for the first time, and our musical world was forever transformed. Join us in commemorating the 200th Anniversary of this iconic masterpiece as the orchestra and chorus bring the glorious “Ode to Joy” to life. Immerse yourself in the transcendent beauty and message of unity in this immortal work as we explore why Beethoven’s music continues to resonate with music lovers worldwide.

The Ninth

Wait Chapel

Southern Connecticut State University

The Oberlin Orchestra and the Oberlin Jazz Ensemble, conducted by Raphael Jiménez, features Oberlin Conservatory student musicians performing concert works for our largest ensemble. This concert features 2023-2024 Senior Concerto Competition winner Drew Dansby, cello.

Concert: Oberlin Orchestra & Oberlin Jazz Ensemble

Oberlin College

Open Rehearsal: Beethoven Concerto No.2

Veterans Memorial Auditorium (The VETS)

Comprising of titled musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra, this acclaimed ensemble presents classics from three centuries of chamber music.

Kennedy Center Chamber Players: Spring Concert

Driven by unbridled curiosity, conductor Timothy Myers conducts a work of musical jokes, Beethoven’s 2nd Symphony, and the first sign that Beethoven would become a rule breaker. Lyricism rounds out the program with Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 and Carlos Simon’s Fate Now Conquers.

Beethoven and Grieg

Safe Credit Union Performing Arts Center

From the piano, Kennedy Center Composer-in-Residence Carlos Simon leads a small ensemble in Requiem for the Enslaved. The program invokes African American spirituals and the form of a Catholic liturgical mass to tell the story of 272 enslaved people sold in 1838 to pay the debts of Georgetown University, where the composer serves as assistant professor of music.

Requiem for the Enslaved

Award-winning pianist Michelle Cann makes her Des Moines debut performing of George Gershwin’s iconic Rhapsody in Blue, celebrating its 100th Anniversary in 2024. The concert opens with Grammy-nominated composer Carlos Simon’s Gospel-inspired Amen! The soaring lyricism and brooding intensity of César Franck’s Symphony in D Minor brings the concert to a close.

Dm Symphony - Discover Gershwin

Des Moines Civic Center

Discover Gershwin

Concert V:School of Music Performance: Symphony Orchestra

West Virginia University

The Oberlin-alumni founded woodwind quintet Imani Winds collaborates with cellist Seth Parker Woods, pianist Cory Smythe, and actor Michael Braugher '14 in a program anchored by Jeff Scott’s Fallen Petals of Nameless Flowers, which tells the stories of four Michiganders who were sentenced to life without parole as juveniles.

Imani Winds with cellist Seth Parker Woods, pianist Cory Smythe, and actor Michael Braugher '14

Wagner described Beethoven’s seventh symphony as the “Apotheosis of the Dance.” It’s a spot-on description — the music moves and breathes and exults and laments, one of Beethoven’s finest and best-loved orchestral works. For this concert, renowned conductor Anne Manson teams up with FWSO’s principal oboist Jennifer Corning Lucio for Ralph Vaughn Williams’ haunting Oboe Concerto, a work in which each movement ends as it began. Finally, the orchestra completes the program with a work by composer Carlos Simon, composer-in-residence at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The FWSO’s Jennifer Corning Lucio: Beethoven, Vaughan Williams, and Carlos Simon

Bass Performance Hall

Have you ever heard a piece of music that inspired you? This program explores the idea that music—even with no words—can make a powerful statement. Featuring Beethoven’s Overture to Leonore and orchestrated pieces by 29:11 International Exchange, this program is sure to prove that musicians can be the world’s greatest change makers.

Music for a Better World

Minnesota Orchestra

From February 16–28, Gianandrea Noseda leads a nine-city European tour, his first international tour with the NSO, and the orchestra’s first since 2016. The NSO will visit some of Europe’s most important concert halls performing for audiences in Spain, Germany, and Italy, joined by pianist Seong-Jin Cho and violinist Hilary Hahn.

NSO Europe Tour: Milan, Teatro alla Scala

Teatro alla Scala

Join us for an unforgettable musical experience as the Ivalas Quartet graces the stage at Caramoor on February 25, 2024, at 2:00 pm. This remarkable ensemble, serving as the 2022-23 Ernst Stiefel String Quartet-in-Residence, will present their final concert in this residency, a performance that was eagerly anticipated and has been postponed from June 2023. The concert will take place in the intimate setting of the Chamber Music Room, offering a perfect acoustic environment to appreciate the quartet's artistry.

The Ivalas Quartet is renowned for their commitment to showcasing diverse voices in classical music, and this concert is no exception. Their program features works by Black and indigenous composers, including a world premiere by the exceptionally talented Derrick Skye, whose compositions reflect his Ghanaian, Nigerian, Native American, and British/Irish heritage. Skye's new work, "Deliverance," promises to be a transcultural exploration blending Persian classical melodic systems with rhythmic elements from West and North African music, offering a unique and enriching musical experience.

The quartet, composed of Reuben Kebede and Tiani Butts on violins, Marcus Stevenson on viola, and Pedro Sánchez on cello, will also perform pieces by Jessie Montgomery, Carlos Simon, and Eleanor Alberga, creating a program that celebrates the richness and diversity of classical music. Each piece has been carefully selected to align with the Ivalas Quartet's mission to disrupt and enhance the classical music world by amplifying voices less known and sometimes unheard.

This concert is not just a performance but a statement of the Ivalas Quartet's dedication to representation, diversity, and the power of music to unite and inspire. It is an invitation to explore the sounds of music from cultures and communities that echo our own and those that may be new to us, all within the beautiful setting of Caramoor.

Tickets are available for purchase now. Don't miss this opportunity to support and enjoy the transformative power of music as brought to life by the Ivalas Quartet.

Ivalas Quartet

The Rosen House at Caramoor

Sibelius’ fifth symphony, led by Jeri Lynne Johnson in her return to New Orleans (New Orleans Opera’s Josephine), will leave the audience enchanted.

Sibelius Symphony No.5

Orpheum Theater

Here I Stand: The Artist as Activist

Paramount Theatre

The city of Atlanta has emerged as one of the world’s most exciting musical capitals, spanning such diverse genres as gospel, hip-hop, opera, orchestral music, and more. This week, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra taps into some of the city’s exceptional local talent. We welcome the famed choirs from Morehouse and Spelman Colleges for a program featuring Atlanta-based composers. GRAMMY™ nominated composer Carlos Simon packs a powerful social conscience into many of his works. brea(d)th and Motherboxx Connection explore contemporary life in Black America.

The Orchestra also presents a stunning lineup of vocal soloists alongside the visionary poet and performance artist Marc Bamuthi Joseph. The program includes We Shall Overcome by Uzee Brown, a distinguished artist from Morehouse College.

Carlos Simon Curates

Atlanta Symphony Hall

The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson makes its highly anticipated mainstage premiere to celebrate the remarkable founder of the historic and groundbreaking National Negro Opera Company, established in 1941. Starring acclaimed mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves in the title role, this play with music by Mark Twain Award-winning playwright Sandra Seaton includes selections from the repertory of the National Negro Opera Company and original music composed by Kennedy Center Composer-in-Residence and 2023 Grammy nominee Carlos Simon.

Central Piedmont Community College

Dvorak traveled to America in the 1890s, and this wild new country thrilled him. He admired the beauty of African American spirituals and was fascinated by Native American traditions. When describing his “New World” symphony, he said, “I tried to write only in the spirit of those national American melodies,” but his Ninth is clearly an expression of both the Old World and the new. Alongside Dvořák’s familiar symphony, violin phenom María Dueñas returns to perform Saint-Saëns, plus a PSO premiere Simon that puts dance at the heart of connection.

Dvorák’s New World

Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts

The rich and diverse Music of the African Diaspora emerges from the musical traditions of displaced Africans around the world, particularly in the Caribbean, South America, and the United States.  From these vibrant communities, genres like blues, jazz, spirituals, calypso, and habanera were born.  In this concert, we pay homage to these influential styles while presenting them through a contemporary lens for 21st Century audiences.

Music of the African Diaspora

DuPont Country Club

Simon + Rhapsody in Blue @ 100

Proctors Theatre

From its ominous opening — “Fate knocking at the door” — to the closing passages of radiant triumph, Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony charts an exhilarating spiritual journey. Beethoven’s legacy looms in works by Carlos Simon and Timo Andres, whose Blind Bannister reimagines the grace and wit of Beethoven’s Second Piano Concerto.

Beethoven's Fifth Symphony

Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

Willamette University

The USC Thornton Winds are led by guest conductor Michael Haithcock in La Création du monde by Darius Milhaud, AMEN! by Carlos Simon, Sinfonia by Zhou Tian and Divertimento in E-flat major, K. 166 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

USC Thornton Winds

Bovard Auditorium (ADM)

American pianist Clayton Stephenson’s love for music is immediately apparent in his joyous charisma onstage, expressive power, and natural ease at the instrument. Hailed for “extraordinary narrative and poetic gifts” and interpretations that are “fresh, incisive and characterfully alive” (Gramophone), he is committed to making an impact on the world through his music-making.

The Composer’s Spirit Revisited

Julie Rogers Theatre

The Sphinx Virtuosi—the flagship ensemble of the Sphinx Organization, dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts—shares the stage with the Minnesota Orchestra in a program featuring Carlos Simon’s meditative Breathe and Angélica Negrón’s immersive Marejada.

The Sphinx Virtuosi

For awe-inspiring vocal magnificence and virtuosity, look no further than Tallis’ towering Spem in alium. Written for an astounding forty individual voice parts, Tallis’ motet is regarded as the pinnacle of Renaissance polyphonic ingenuity. Howells’ Requiem, a rarely performed Romantic masterpiece, is a sublime and complex work of soaring vocals and unexpected harmonies. Join the Master Chorale for a singular performance of two monumental masterpieces, and a varied sonic showcase of music reflecting on the same spirit of hope, devotion, and deliverance – including the world premiere of Carlos Simon’s Affirmations

Spem in alium

Walt Disney Concert Hall

Mozart & Now reimagines the traditional concert weekend experience with three unique programs contrasting the music of Mozart alongside contemporary works by some of today’s brightest composers, all led by Principal Conductor Peter Oundjian. On Friday and Saturday, hear four of Mozart’s most revered compositions including the indelible Symphony No. 40 and his overture from The Magic Flute, alongside modern works by Carlos Simon and Valerie Coleman.

Mozart & Now with Peter Oundjian 2024

Denver Performing Arts Complex

Music and other art forms are inextricably linked and have been for ages, bridging the gaps of time and uniting people through storytelling. In this concert, the CSO will explore works inspired by the written word and one piece that is rooted back in time yet sounds fresh and colorful. Three American composers – Bernstein, Simon, and Marsalis – also reveal the melting pot that comprises this nation’s history and its people.

The Music of Bernstein and Marsalis

Gaillard Center

Following his concerts last season, The Washington Classical Review reported that an “aura of classical music celebrity hung about the Kennedy Center Concert Hall… when a capacity crowd turned out to hear the return of Seong-Jin Cho.” Now, he reunites with Noseda for a performance of Beethoven’s moving Piano Concerto No. 4.

Seong-Jin Cho plays Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 Noseda conducts Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony & Carlos Simon

Join us as we explore the music of praise and faith with a selection of works by Jewish composers and gospel arrangements performed by the St. Stephen Temple Choir! This event will be an enchanting evening of musical diversity and virtuosity as we present a captivating program that transcends genres and showcases the talents of renowned artists. This program was made in collaboration with Jason Clayborn, St. Stephen Mass Choir,

Classics: Together in Song

The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts

St. Stephen Church

Join the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra for a captivating evening of music and insight with "Verdi and Simon: An Open Rehearsal and Performance." This unique event is scheduled for Thursday, January 11, 2024, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the Tagney Jones Hall, located within the Seattle Opera Center.

Experience the transformative process of music-making as the orchestra, under the baton of Music Director Geoffrey Larson, transitions from rehearsal to performance right before your eyes. The evening promises an intimate glimpse into the ensemble's preparation and execution of two profound works, showcasing the raw power and emotion embedded in the compositions of Giuseppe Verdi and Carlos Simon.

The program features Verdi's "Overture to La forza del destino (The Power of Destiny)," a piece celebrated for its dramatic intensity and melodic richness, performed by the full orchestra. Following this, the orchestra will present Carlos Simon's "Elegy: A Cry From the Grave," a poignant and reflective piece dedicated to the memories of Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, and Alton Sterling, exploring themes of hope, healing, violence, oppression, and injustice.

This event is not only a performance but an educational journey, filmed for future video production, including two short intermissions. Admission is free, with a pay-what-you-choose option for those who wish to contribute, ensuring accessibility to all. While tickets are complimentary, reservations are recommended to secure your spot due to limited capacity.

Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity to witness the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra's artistic process, from the meticulous rehearsal to the final, emotive performance. Reserve your seat and be part of a night where music speaks volumes, transcending the concert hall to touch the hearts of all present.

Verdi and Simon: An Open Rehearsal and Performance

Seattle Opera

Dominic Law, Double Bass

The Juilliard School

Music at Kohl Mansion’s international chamber music season continues on Sunday, November 19 with the Kohl Mansion debut of the nationally acclaimed Jupiter String Quartet. For their auspicious engagement, the ensemble will present Upheaval, a thoughtful program of music reflective of great social political upheaval from the past to the present.

Jupiter String Quartet

Kohl Mansion

Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony stands apart as one of the most recognizable works ever written, and a live performance of the Fifth never fails to inspire. From the fateful opening hammer strokes to its rapturous finale, the music comes alive with an intensity that is impossible to ignore. Don’t miss this ultimate tale of triumph over tragedy — a musical celebration of humankind’s will to survive and overcome.

Beethoven 5

Boise State University

A night of epic music begins with Wake Up: A Concerto for Orchestra, a new piece by Grammy®-nominated composer, curator and activist Carlos Simon, commissioned by the San Diego Symphony. Music Director Rafael Payare also leads a sonic and visual expedition into Richard Wagner’s Ring Without Words, an ingenious synthesis of the composer’s Ring cycle of operas, arranged by conductor Lorin Maazel. Ring Without Words invites listeners on an enchanting journey through the Rhine to Valhalla, soaring over hills, valleys and caves, with the flight of a Valkyrie.

The Ring Without Words

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

A night of epic music begins with Wake Up: A Concerto for Orchestra, a new piece by GRAMMY®-nominated composer, curator and activist Carlos Simon, commissioned by the San Diego Symphony. Music Director Rafael Payare also leads a sonic expedition into Richard Wagner’s Ring Without Words, an ingenious synthesis of the composer’s Ring cycle of operas, arranged by conductor Lorin Maazel. Ring Without Words invites listeners on an enchanting journey through the Rhine to Valhalla, soaring over hills, valleys and caves, with the flight of a Valkyrie.


Multi-genre work Requiem for the Enslaved by Carlos Simon is a musical tribute to commemorate the stories of 272 enslaved men, women and children sold in 1838 by Georgetown University, infusing original compositions with African American spirituals and familiar Catholic liturgical melodies.

Carlos Simon

Composer, Music Director

Events

Upcoming events

11 - 12 Jan, 2025

Daniel Roumain + Beethoven's Pastoral · Albany Symphony

Jan 25, 2025

Beethoven’s Fifth · The Syracuse Orchestra

Jan 31 - Feb 1, 2025

Beethoven & Tchaikovsky 6 · Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

Feb 1, 2025

Mozart Serenity · Lesher Center for the Arts

1 - 2 Feb, 2025

Mozart Serenity · California Symphony

Past events

7 - 8 Dec, 2024

Beethoven’s Seventh · Sarasota Orchestra

6 - 8 Dec, 2024

Ellington & The Nutcracker · Detroit Symphony Orchestra

About

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