Composer

Pianist

San Diego Opera hosts world premiere of 'El último sueño de Frida y Diego'

Beloved, do not let me be discouraged takes its title from a line in a poem by the 16th-century Turkish writer Fuzuli, in which he relates the legend of the ill-fated lovers Layli and Magnun, the eastern counterparts to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Brooklyn Rider sets Colin Jacobsen’s ecstatic score in company with a new quartet by Gabriela Lena Frank, named by the Washington Post as one of the most significant women composers in history, and Robert Schumann’s poetic First String Quartet.

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Brooklyn Rider

Wigmore Hall

Giancarlo Guerrero leads the Grant Park Orchestra in Brahms’s Symphony No. 4, the composer’s poignant final symphony. Gabriela Lena Frank’s harrowing Conquest Requiem and Charles Ives’s eclectic Variations on America round out the program.

Brahms Symphony No. 4

Millennium Park

On May 30, the Metropolitan Opera’s 2025–26 Live in HD season comes to a close with a live transmission of American composer Gabriela Lena Frank’s first opera, a magical-realist portrait of Mexico’s painterly power couple Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, with libretto by Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Nilo Cruz.

Fashioned as a reversal of the Orpheus and Euridice myth, the story depicts Frida, sung by leading mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, leaving the underworld on the Day of the Dead and reuniting with Diego, portrayed by baritone Carlos Álvarez. The famously feuding pair briefly relive their tumultuous love, embracing both the passion and the pain before bidding the land of the living a final farewell. Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts the Met-premiere staging of Frank’s opera, a “confident, richly imagined score” (The New Yorker) that “bursts with color and fresh individuality” (Los Angeles Times).

MET: El Ultimo Sueno de Frida y Diego

The Courtyard Hereford

Composer and librettist Scott Eyerly brings a fresh approach to the Mahaiwe’s Met lectures. He combines his experience as a teacher at The Juilliard School with a wide range of creative accomplishments – from his comic opera My Life Online, premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe, to his musical comedy Pooch, produced in workshop at Seagle Music Festival. Eyerly’s lively talks are drawing novices and cognoscenti alike.

Scott Eyerly’s Virtual Met Opera Lecture: Gabriela Lena Frank’s El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

Acclaimed American composer Gabriela Lena Frank makes her Met debut with her first opera, a magical-realist tale of the iconic artist couple Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. The performance draws inspiration from their paintings and features a libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz.

The story is a twist on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, and depicts Frida, sung by the distinguished mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, as she leaves the underworld on the Day of the Dead to be reunited with Diego, played by baritone Carlos Álvarez. The famous, feuding couple briefly relive their stormy love, embracing both passion and pain before bidding a final farewell to the world of the living.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts the Met premiere of Frank’s opera, a “confident, richly imaginative composition” ( The New Yorker ), “bubbling with color and fresh originality” ( Los Angeles Times ). The vibrant new production is directed and choreographed by Deborah Colker, following her acclaimed debut production of Ainadamar in 2024.

 Opera (live) at the cinema: Frida and Diego's last dream

Umeå Folkets Hus

The always-evolving Met Orchestra Chamber Ensemble features musicians from the legendary Met Orchestra in a variety of unique programs. Together, along with special guest artists from the Metropolitan Opera and beyond, they explore a boundless world of chamber music, adapting to fit the instrumental needs of any piece—from all-time classics to hard-to-find hidden gems and standout works by many of today’s significant composers. Tonight, as part of Carnegie Hall’s United in Sound: America at 250 festival, the ensemble performs works by American composers Valerie Coleman, Gabriela Lena Frank, Bernstein, and Steve Reich, plus Dvořák’s String Quintet, written alongside the “American” Quartet while the composer was living in Iowa.

The Met Orchestra Chamber Ensemble 2026 Concert 6

Carnegie Hall

American composer Gabriela Lena Frank makes her Met debut with her first opera, a magical-realist portrait of Mexico’s painterly power couple Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, with libretto by Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Nilo Cruz. Fashioned as a reversal of the Orpheus and Euridice myth, the story depicts Frida, sung by leading mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, leaving the underworld on the Day of the Dead and reuniting with Diego, portrayed by baritone Carlos Álvarez. The famously feuding pair briefly relive their tumultuous love, embracing both the passion and the pain before bidding the land of the living a final farewell. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts the Met premiere of Frank’s opera, a “confident, richly imagined score” (The New Yorker) that “bursts with color and fresh individuality” (Los Angeles Times). The vibrant new production, taking enthusiastic inspiration from Frida and Diego’s paintings, is directed and choreographed by Deborah Colker, following her remarkable 2024 debut staging of Ainadamar.

El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego

Lincoln Center

Opera Wilmington and Osher Livelong Learning Institute at UNCW continue their collaboration to bring you Opera Talks focused on two Met Opera Live in HD screenings in April and May.

UNCW opera historian and bassist Dr. Helena Kopchick Spencer again guides Opera Talk attendees through the stories behind the operas as well as the operas themselves.

Coming up next is Eugene Onegin, at times celebratory, at times poignant and heartbreaking. Timing is everything in this opera, which Tchaikovsky based on a verse novel by Alexander Pushkin. Onegin, a man of society, gets his timing all wrong, rejecting the love of Tatiana, a country girl, when they first meet.

When he sees her again five years later, he realizes that he loves her deeply. Tatiana is now married, however, and refuses to leave her husband even though she still harbors great affection for Onegin.

Expanding our understanding of the opera and the world in which it takes place is the purpose of Opera Talks. Kopchick Spencer brings her enthusiasm, vast knowledge and sense of humor to each one.

The final session, May 27, spotlights El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego, a contemporary work by Gabriela Lena Frank. This “last dream” of the famous artists is fashioned as a reversal of the Orpheus and Euridice myth. Frida Kahlo leaves the underworld on the Day of the Dead to unite briefly on earth with her lover Diego Rivera.

Opera Talks

Cinemark Myrtle Beach

Mayfaire Town Center

University of Delaware Wilmington Campus

In keeping with Where Our Stories Meet, this program pairs two deeply personal responses to grief and remembrance on the eve of Palm Sunday: one drawn from Andean heritage, the other from the Protestant Reformation.

MasterWorks VI: Brahms a german requiem

Zimmermann Symphony Center

Your toes will be tapping when The Santa Fe Symphony presents Symphonic Dances from Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story, just one of the works featured on this high-spirited afternoon of symphonic dances. In what promises to be another stunning performance led by Music Director Guillermo Figueroa, the concert also includes a side-by-side performance with members of The Santa Fe Symphony Youth Orchestra performing Moncayo’s Huapango. Gabriela Lena Frank’s Three Latin American Dances and Samuel Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 round out the program.

symphonic dances

Lensic Performing Arts Center

On the Day of the Dead, Mexican artist Frida Kahlo crosses over from the underworld for 24 short hours with Diego Rivera, who remains in the living world, alone and grieving her loss.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents El último sueño de Frida y Diego, which had its critically acclaimed world premiere in 2022 and brings the legendary marriage — and revolutionary art — of Frida and Diego to the stage with vivid colors, surrealist touches, and lush, evocative music sung in Spanish and inspired by Mexican folk music traditions.

El último sueño de Frida y Diego

Lyric Opera House

Pachamama is the word for Mother Earth in the Inca-Quechua language. The ode that Pachamama meets is from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Along with it is a connection to the Industrial Revolution of Beethoven’s time. Composer Gabriela Lena Frank’s message is that “Gifts from the past—especially odes—must be looked at with new and searching eyes.”

Beethoven Symphony No. 9

Orchestra Hall Minneapolis

Camellia Symphony Orchestra: Folk Spirits and Temperaments

C.K. McClatchy High School

Kalena Bovell conducts a program of orchestral grandeur. Respighi’s Pines of Rome, last performed by HSO in 2013, brings the Italian landscape to life with sweeping brass fanfares, atmospheric sounds, and lush harmonies.

HSO Masterworks Series: Pines of Rome

Maxwell M. & Ruth R. Belding Theater

Pines of Rome

The Bushnell

Our fourth classical concert is very special because we celebrate the return of Pepe Romero to Long Beach Symphony.

Pepe is a living legend who is not only one of the most wonderful musicians I have ever worked with, but also an incredible person who brings an irresistible humanity to the stage and to his music. I think it is that combination of incredible artistry and personality that makes his music-making so unique. I hope you can join us for this singular event. Pepe will perform the guitar concerto of all guitar concertos, the Concierto de Aranjuez by Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo, a concerto that transports us to Spain. The first movement is infused with dance-like rhythms– but I really think that the crown jewel of this work is the truly magical second movement, the slow movement and its haunting melody for English horn. It is one of the most beautiful melodies ever composed.

Pepe Romero Returns

Terrace Theater, Long Beach Performing Arts Center

Composer Gabriela Lena Frank explores the tumultuous relationship between Mexican painters Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera in a new string quartet based on her acclaimed 2021 opera El último sueño de Frida y Diego (The Last Dream of Frida and Diego), a “confident, richly imagined score” (The New Yorker) that “bursts with color and fresh individuality” (Los Angeles Times). This new multi-media DACAMERA production features projections based on the paintings of Frida Kahlo.

Brooklyn Rider: Frida’s Dreams

Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

Love is in the air—from Ginastera’s love story Estancia, which includes the famous “Malambo,” to a thrilling celebration with the renowned UC Davis Mariachi Ensemble. This concert showcasing the rhythms and melodies of Central and South America is not to be missed!

Sounds of the Americas: A Mariachi Valentine

Lesher Center for the Arts

Alisa Weilerstein, one of today’s foremost cellists, performs a concerto written for her by Joan Tower and co-commissioned by the DSO. Tower’s work shows a range of influences, from the rhythms she heard during her childhood in South America to the driving pulse found in the music of Beethoven—whose energetic Fourth Symphony concludes the concert.

Beethoven, Bignamini & Weilerstein

Detroit Symphony Orchestra


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CELEBRATE
FEB 7 2026 | SAT @ 3:00 PM​
Washington Center for the Performing Arts

Ticket Sales Coming Soon!
Start your new year with a celebration of brilliance, beauty, and bold artistry.
​

Violinist Adé Williams takes the stage for Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D minor—a piece of staggering intensity and beauty. With performances described as “stunning” by The New York Times, Williams is a force of nature whose playing radiates energy, emotional depth, and connection.

Celebrate

Washington Center for the Performing Arts

This concert features American composer Aaron Copland with his dramatic musical story of legendary outlaw Billy the Kid.  Copland’s brilliant score takes us through scenes of wagons, a frontier town, a nighttime card game, and even a gun battle from the American West.  The concert opens with American composer Gabriela Lena Frank’s Three Latin American Dances, a work depicting rhythms and dances of regions in South America.

Billy The Kid

California State University, Chico

Cascade Theatre

Frank’s Sandbox Premiere

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

Your Symphony’s new year begins with Gabriela Lena Frank’s Escaramuza (meaning “skirmish” in Spanish) — a dynamic and colorful work inspired by her Peruvian heritage. This spirited piece captures the energy of the lively Kachampa Andean dance celebrating the agility and strength of Inca warriors. Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier Suite is a symphonic distillation of his beloved opera, bursting with elegance, humor, and romantic nostalgia — sweeping waltzes and tender love duets that have enchanted audiences for more than a century. Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2 is a monumental work that combines virtuosic piano passages with symphonic grandeur. One of our favorite pianists, the magisterial Yefim Bronfman, brings his formidable technique and interpretative depth to this masterpiece. The sheer beauty of this work will lift our spirits to start a new year together.

Heartbeat

Overture Center for the Arts

Mozart & Now reimagines the concert weekend experience with three unique performances contrasting the music of Mozart alongside contemporary works by some of today’s brightest composers. From Friday to Saturday, hear three of Mozart’s most revered compositions including the scintillating Symphony No. 35, his “Gran partita” Serenade featuring the entire woodwind section, and the “Coronation” Mass alongside modern works by Joel Thompson, Vivian Fung, and Gabriela Lena Frank.

Mozart and Now

Denver Performing Arts Complex

The Vertavo String Quartet has captivated audiences the world over since its founding in 1984. The quartet’s honors and awards include Norway’s Grieg Prize; First Prize, the Audience Prize, and the Critics’ Prize at the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition; and a Diapason d’Or for their recording of Debussy and Grieg quartets. The group has toured extensively throughout Europe, the US, and Japan, and collaborated with pianists Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Leif Ove Andsnes, clarinetist Sabine Meyer, and violinist and violist Isabelle van Keulen.

Vertavo String Quartet 2026

Northwestern University

A new premiere by Arizona-raised Paolo Prestini is bookended by works by Gabriela Lena Frank, Villa-Lobos, and Haydn’s Overture to L’isola disabitata and Symphony No. 45, “Farewell.”

Although Haydn’s Symphony No. 45, the “Farewell,” is known for its dramatic Adagio final movement where the musicians exit the stage, it stands on its own as a beautiful, affecting work. Haydn was also an accomplished opera composer; his opera L’isola disabitata tells the story of sisters stranded on a desert island for 13 years, developed in partnership with the most famous librettist of his time, Pietro Metastasio.

Haydn’s Farewell

Catalina Foothills High School

Each stopover will introduce you to a different sound world, combining lively rhythms and captivating melodies. Under the direction of conductor Zoe Zeniodi, the musicians will be joined by soprano Sheva Tehoval, the distinguished guest of this festive event. Together, they will perform works with multiple influences, reflecting the richness of the world's musical heritage. A moment of sharing, joy, and escape to experience with family or friends, to start the year with a smile.

New Year's Concert

Opéra Berlioz

Winner of the 2024 Musical Fund Society Career Advancement Award, Anika Kildegaard is quickly distinguishing herself as one of the most promising American vocalists specializing in new music and concert repertoire. Fresh off her Carnegie Hall and Boston Symphony Orchestra debuts, this frequent member of the award winning vocal ensemble The Crossing debuts with PCMS in a recital that highlights selections from three song cycles that grapple with the intensity of love and loss in the human experience.

Anika Kildegaard, soprano Daniel Schreiner, piano

 Benjamin Franklin Hall

Get ready to vote! The instrument families show off their unique skills and sounds, and you get to pick your favorite. Who will win? It's up to YOU!

The Great Debate

Cincinnati Music Hall

Sergei Prokofiev was the bad boy of Russian music; Romeo and Juliet is the greatest love story ever told. Not an obvious match – but somehow, they clicked, and Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet drives straight to the raw, tender heart of Shakespeare’s drama. Tonight, it’s one of three very different visions of paradise from guest conductor Elim Chan. Cellist Nicolas Altstaedt plays the sun-kissed concerto that William Walton composed on a Mediterranean island. Meanwhile, with the UK premiere of Contested Eden, composer Gabriela Lena Frank joins our Harmony with Nature debate with a very personal response to California’s wildfires.

Romeo and Juliet

Southbank Centre

Not an obvious match – but somehow, they clicked, and Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet drives straight to the raw, tender heart of Shakespeare’s drama.

Get ready for an amazing concert with guest conductor Lina Gonzalez-Granados and cello player Santiago Canon Valencia. The Grand Rapids Symphony presents, Dvořák and the Americas.

Dvořák and the Americas

DeVos Performance Hall

"In the great flowering of Spanish music at the start of the 20th century, first Albeniz, then Granados, and finally Falla, brought international sophistication to a musical world on the fringe of Europe.  They had the genius to make thoroughly contemporary pieces out of distinctively Spanish material, giving the world a fresh perspective on their nation's culture." - Deutsche Grammophon

Spanish Passion

Washington Pavilion

The Jasper String Quartet (“flawless…expressively assured and beautifully balanced,” Gramophone) leads a program of music inspired by local and indigenous cultures. Gabriela Lena Frank draws upon her Peruvian roots in Leyendas, inspired by the sound of Andean folk instruments; Chickasaw composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate gives homage to Hopi and Pueblo music in Pisachi, accompanied by projected images of the American Southwest; and Czech master Antonín Dvořák pulls out the stops in his energetic, deliberately “Slavonic” String Quartet, Op. 51.

Jasper String Quartet: Roots

First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles

From New Worlds – Origin VI

Bergrestaurant und Lounge Eggli Gstaad

Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Guest Conductor Marin Alsop is convinced that music has the power to change lives. She’s also enormously entertaining to watch, as you’ll see in this program that features Mozart’s charming Violin Concerto No. 3. Performing this bravura display of the instrument’s range is the astonishing young violinist Randall Goosby, who “plays like an angel with nothing to prove” (Los Angeles Times).

Mozart Violin Concerto

Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater

This year's "Rainbow Concert" by the Munich Philharmonic for Christopher Street Day (CSD) will take place on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. in the Old Town Hall.

Rainbow Concert

Old Town Hall

Grab your passport and join us for our season’s grand finale in Spain. Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, by far his best-known work, cemented his reputation as one of Spain’s most significant composers.

We’ll also view the Iberian Peninsula through the lens of two visiting composers, Ravel (France) and Rimsky-Korsakov (Russian), and hear how each portrayed Spanish music through their distinct writing styles.

España

California Theatre

Originally from Cleveland, OH, Lorenzo Lopez is an accomplished musician and conductor known for his dynamic leadership and passionate musicianship. He has served as a lecturer for Purdue University’s Symphonic and String Orchestras and as a Conducting Fellow for the Indianapolis Youth Orchestra. Lopez has collaborated with distinguished conductors such as Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Cristian Macelaru, Marin Alsop, and James Ross.

May Orchestra Series (Featuring Lorenzo Lopez, CityMusic Community Choir, & Chabrelle Williams)

Fairmount Cooperative Preschool

2023 Latin GRAMMY triple-nominee Pacho Flores makes his NHSO debut with Daniel Freiberg’s new Trumpet Concerto, and Perry So leads the NHSO in music by Arturo Márquez, Gabriela Lena Frank, and Silvestre Revueltas. 

Danzas Sinfónicas

Yale University

Since forming in 2010, Neave Trio – violinist Anna Williams, cellist Mikhail Veselov, and pianist Eri Nakamura – has earned enormous praise for its engaging, cutting­edge performances. WQXR explains, “‘Neave’ is actually a Gaelic name meaning ‘bright’ and ‘radiant,’ both of which certainly apply to this trio's music making.” The group’s 2019 album Her Voice, on Chandos Records, was named one of the best recordings of the year by both The New York Times and BBC Radio 3. The Boston Musical Intelligencer reports, “it is inconceivable that they will not soon be among the busiest chamber ensembles going,” and “their unanimity, communication, variety of touch, and expressive sensibility rate first tier.”

Neave Trio

United Methodist Church Ridgecrest

Gabriela Lena Frank, an acclaimed contemporary composer, premiered "Pachamama Meets an Ode" in 2020. This innovative piece draws inspiration from two distinct sources: the Andean concept of Pachamama, the earth goddess revered in indigenous South American cultures, and Beethoven’s iconic "Ode to Joy" from his Ninth Symphony. Frank masterfully weaves these influences together, creating a work that celebrates the interconnectedness of nature and humanity. The composition employs a rich tapestry of orchestral colors and textures, incorporating indigenous musical elements and instruments alongside traditional Western orchestration. "Pachamama Meets an Ode" is a vibrant and thought-provoking piece that invites listeners to reflect on themes of unity and environmental stewardship.

Beethoven's 9th Symphonic Celebration

Oak Ridge High School

Griffin Seuter, cello - Second Year Master's Recital

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Experience the magic of classical music with the Santa Rosa Symphony's captivating concert series, "A New World," taking place on March 22, 23, and 24, 2025, at the prestigious Weill Hall, Green Music Center. This series promises an unforgettable journey through the rich tapestry of classical music under the baton of the electrifying guest conductor Yue Bao, making her debut with the orchestra.

The highlight of the concert series is a breathtaking performance by violinist Simone Porter, who will bring to life Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, a masterpiece known for its lyrical beauty and technical brilliance. The program also features Gabriela Lena Frank's Elegía Andina for Orchestra, a piece that promises to enchant the audience with its intricate harmonies and vibrant textures. The evening culminates with Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor, "From the New World," a work celebrated for its incorporation of Native American and African American musical influences, creating a profound and moving experience.

Concert dates and times are as follows:
- Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 7:30 pm
- Sunday, March 23, 2025, at 3:00 pm
- Monday, March 24, 2025, at 7:30 pm

Additionally, attendees have the unique opportunity to delve deeper into the music with "Concert Conversations with Yue Bao," taking place 30 minutes before each performance. These discussions are open to all Classical Series concert ticket holders and offer fascinating insights into the evening's program.

Season subscriptions are currently available, offering a chance to secure your place at this not-to-be-missed event. Single tickets will go on sale on July 29, 2024. Special offers are available for youths aged 7-17 and college students, ensuring that the next generation of classical music lovers can experience the joy and beauty of live performance.

Don't miss this extraordinary celebration of classical music with the Santa Rosa Symphony's "A New World." Reserve your tickets now and prepare to be transported by the power and beauty of orchestral music.

A New World

Green Music Center

Join us for an unforgettable musical journey as Marin Alsop leads the Philadelphia Orchestra in a captivating program featuring the works of Brahms, Mendelssohn, and Frank. This special series of performances will take place at the prestigious Verizon Hall, soon to be rededicated as Marian Anderson Hall, showcasing the orchestra's magnificent programming and offering exclusive subscriber benefits.

**Event Dates and Times:**
- Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 7:30 PM
- Friday, March 14, 2025, at 2:00 PM
- Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 8:00 PM

**Performance Details:**
Under the baton of Marin Alsop, a conductor celebrated for her belief in the transformative power of music, the orchestra will present a program that includes the world premiere of Gabriela Lena Frank's "Picaflor," commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra. This vibrant new work retells a traditional Peruvian creation myth, adding a unique cultural texture to the evening.

The program also features Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto, a poetic and passionate piece performed by the astonishing young violinist Randall Goosby, whose talent has been praised by the Los Angeles Times for playing "like an angel with nothing to prove." This bravura display of the violin’s range and emotional power promises to be a highlight of the concert.

Completing the evening is Brahms's intricate "Variations on a Theme of Haydn," a piece known for its contrapuntal shifts and brilliant puzzle that showcases the artistry of the orchestra's musicians.

**Subscription Packages:**
This performance is available as part of the 2024-25 Subscription Package, which includes magnificent programming and exclusive subscriber benefits. Packages available include Thursday Evening B, Friday Matinee A, Saturday Evening B, and Create Your Own.

**Venue:**
Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, soon to be Marian Anderson Hall.

**Tickets and Subscription Information:**
For tickets, subscription details, and more information on the benefits of subscribing, please visit our website or contact our ticket and subscriber services. 

Don't miss this opportunity to experience the power of live music under the direction of Marin Alsop, accompanied by the talented Randall Goosby and the world-class Philadelphia Orchestra. Reserve your seats now for an evening of breathtaking performances.

Marin Alsop Leads Brahms, Mendelssohn, and Frank

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

Program 3

Los Altos United Methodist Church

Palo Alto High School

We’re full of surprises. Every Masterworks concert has a surprise inside – a short mystery piece that connects to the program in an unexpected way. Each one is Michael Francis’ little secret.

Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations

Duke Energy Center for the Arts

Straz Center for the Performing Arts

The ISO flexes its musical muscles with three show-stopping concertos. Paul Huang joins us for Barber’s gorgeous Violin Concerto, and composer Gabriela Lena Frank takes us to her hometown in the Peruvian Mountains in a “little concerto” for orchestra. Music Director Jun Märkl leads the ISO in Bartók’s virtuosic Concerto for Orchestra, a piece that challenges every member of the ensemble!

The Concerto: Barber, Bartók, And Frank

Hilbert Circle Theatre

Fanny Hensel (née Mendelssohn) and Louise Farrenc had everything they needed to reach the forefront of music history: an art-loving family, early musical support, sufficient financial means and, last but not least, enviable talent. There was only one thing they both lacked: the right gender. Fanny, just as brilliant a child prodigy as Felix, bowed for a long time to the will of her younger brother, who was convinced of the then common cliché that women were only capable of composing small, lyrical pieces. However, they lacked the strength for the supreme disciplines such as the string quartet or the symphony. Fanny Hensel's only string quartet, published in the 20th century, is a romantic masterpiece that proves her brother wrong. Louise Farrenc achieved great renown in 19th century Paris as a pianist, composer, and even as a conductor and professor. After her death, she was forgotten and was only rediscovered in the 1980s as part of gender research. Farrenc's string quintet is an arrangement of her popular nonet, which achieved a high level of fame outside France. The occasion on which Farrenc created the string-only version and whether it was ever performed remains a mystery. In addition to these two European women, two contemporary American composers are also in focus: Gabriela Lena Frank, born in California, traces her own roots in her works, which are fed by Peruvian-Chinese-Lithuanian-Jewish influences. In her work "Leyendas," she mixes elements of western classical and Andean folk music traditions. Jessie Montgomery has become a strong voice in American music in the 21st century through her artistic use of improvisation, poetry, and social awareness in her music. One of her latest works will have its premiere in this program.

Ladies First

Gasteig HP8

Experience a unique concert that blends selections from movies, plays, and operas, with one of the greatest symphonies ever written, Beethoven’s Eroica. The evening features Herrmann’s intense Psycho Suite, the serene beauty of Massenet’s Meditation from Thaïs, and the dynamic rhythms of Milhaud’s Concerto for Percussion and Small Orchestra. The night culminates with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, a work that redefined the symphonic genre with its revolutionary spirit and profound depth.

Your Youngstown Symphony Presents: Beethoven & Beyond

Stambaugh Auditorium

Founded in 2017, the Reverón Piano Trio has quickly established itself as one of the most important chamber music ensembles from Latin America. Its members share a true passion in the performance of works by Latin American composers whose main goal is to introduce audiences to their rich repertoire of contemporary and standard works. These seasoned artists, all Venezuelan but now residing in the U.S., are active promoters of Latin American music through their work as scholars and entrepreneurs, and they have devoted their careers to the discovery, cataloging, performance, editing, and recording of this repertoire along with commissioning new works. Recent collaborations include La Hamaca (2021) and El Ventilador (2022), written for the trio by Venezuelan-American composer Ricardo Lorenz, and the world premiere of Barroqueada (2020) by Grammy-nominated composer Miguel del Águila.

Reverón Piano Trio

Mercy Center Burlingame

Experience the incredible influence and beauty of cultural belonging and family traditions with CULTURE CHRONICLES. Our second series concert propels composers both living and past into the spotlight, providing an intimate peak into how their cultural heritage inspires their musical storytelling. Guest Conductor Vinay Parameswaran joins the Sinfonietta, having collaborated with Music Director Mei-Ann Chen to bring audiences a program that contemplates ancestry, homelands and guiding spirits.

Culture Chronicles

Roosevelt University

North Central College

Experience a vibrant journey through contemporary Latin American classical music. The concert opens with Puerto Rican composer Ernesto Cordero’s violin concerto “Insula Tropical,” featuring Guillermo Figueroa as both soloist and conductor. Next, revel in Gabriela Lena Frank’s “Three Latin American Dances,” followed by Astor Piazzolla’s renowned “Libertango.” The suite from Manuel de Falla’s “The Three-Cornered Hat” offers a nostalgic nod to Spain. The evening culminates with Miguel del Aguila’s exhilarating “Conga,” featuring the composer on piano. 

Echoes of the Americas

Symphony Hall, Springfield

Audience favorite Morihiko Nakahara returns with all-American music, honoring the 100th anniversary of Rhapsody in Blue and opening with the Celebration Overture of local composer Greg Yasinitsky. The second half is given to dance, with John Adam’s tongue-in-cheek Cha Cha for Chairman Mao and Bernstein’s depiction of riotous sailors on shore leave in the Big Apple.

Masterworks 3: An American Celebration

Martin Woldson Theater

Viola students of James Dunham

Alice Pratt Brown Hall

### Event Description: Nu Deco Ensemble ft. Alfredo Rodríguez at The Colony Theatre

**Event Dates and Times:**
- **Friday, May 17, 2024 - 8:00 PM**
- **Saturday, May 18, 2024 - 8:00 PM**

**Location:**
- **The Colony Theatre**
- **1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, FL 33139**

**Event Overview:**
Celebrate the season finale of the Nu Deco Ensemble with an exhilarating two-night performance at the Colony Theatre. This special event features a first-time collaboration with GRAMMY-nominated Cuban composer and pianist Alfredo Rodríguez. Known for his dynamic performances and collaborations with Quincy Jones, Rodríguez is set to light up the Lincoln Road stage.

**Musical Highlights:**
- **Leonard Bernstein’s "On the Town"**: A sizzling rendition of this classic piece.
- **Gabriela Lena Frank’s "Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout"**: An enchanting contemporary composition.
- **Exclusive Nu Deco Original**: A unique piece crafted by the ensemble.

**Tickets:**
- Available for purchase now. Don’t miss this captivating musical journey!

**Contact Information:**
- **Box Office Phone:** 305.674.1040
- **Box Office Email:** boxofficemiaminewdrama.org
- **Box Office Hours:** Monday to Friday, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Join us for an unforgettable evening of music and celebration as we close out the season with this extraordinary event!

Nu Deco Ensemble ft. Alfredo Rodríguez

Colony Theatre

Vibrant musical colors twist and dance in this varied program. Alberto Ginastera’s Variaciones concertantes and Gabriela Lena Frank’s Concertino Cusqueño explore the sights and sounds of South America, while showcasing the virtuosity of the SLSO musicians. Conductor Cristian Măcelaru illuminates the soul of Antonín Dvořák’s music, from the fireworks of Carnival Overture to the exuberant Sixth Symphony. “The only way we can eradicate darkness is by bringing light,” Măcelaru says.

Ginastera and Dvořák

University of Missouri-St. Louis

### Event Description: Pocahontas Premieres: Richmond Symphony

**Event:** Pocahontas Premieres: Richmond Symphony  
**Date:** Saturday, September 21, 2024  
**Time:** 7:00 PM  
**Venue:** Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield, VA  
**Conductor:** Hae Lee  

**Performance Details:**
- **Elmer Bernstein:** The Great Escape March
- **Cody Fry:** Caves
- **Barber:** Adagio for Strings
- **Leonard Bernstein, arr. Jack Mason:** Selections from West Side Story
- **Santos Cifuentes:** Scherzo Sobre Aries Tropicales
- **Gabriela Lena Frank:** Raices Roots: Concerto Suite for Orchestra
- **Lecuona:** Malaguena

**Event Highlights:**
- **Free Outdoor Concert:** Enjoy a live orchestra performance in the beautiful setting of Pocahontas State Park.
- **Family-Friendly:** Bring a blanket, picnic basket, and your loved ones for a delightful evening.
- **Open to the Public:** No ticket required for entry.
- **Parking:** A $10 parking fee applies.
- **Rain Date:** In case of inclement weather, the concert will be rescheduled to Sunday, September 22.

**Additional Information:**
- **Add to Calendar:** Options available for Google Calendar, iCalendar, Outlook 365, and Outlook Live.
- **Newsletter Subscription:** Stay updated by subscribing to the Richmond Symphony newsletter.

Join us for an enchanting evening of music under the stars, led by Associate Conductor Hae Lee. This is a perfect opportunity to experience the magic of live orchestral music in a serene outdoor setting.

Pocahontas Premieres: Richmond Symphony

Pocahontas State Park

Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of chamber music at the Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival, taking place on Saturday, August 17, 2024. This prestigious event promises an unforgettable day of musical mastery and cultural exploration, set against the picturesque backdrop of the Elley-Long Music Center at St. Michael’s College.

The festival kicks off at 10 AM with String Masterclasses, where student musicians will perform under the guidance of renowned artists Robyn Bollinger, Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, and Peter Stumpf. This unique setup allows the audience to meander through the sessions, gaining insights into the intricate process of music-making.

At 2 PM, the festival takes a deep dive into the Power of Folklore with Jin Kim, a pivotal figure in the LCCMF community and father of Artistic Director Soovin Kim. Jin Kim will share personal anecdotes and the influence of Korean folk traditions on his family and American culture, offering a profound perspective on intercultural communication.

The highlight of the day, a SPOTLIGHT CONCERT at 3:30 PM, titled "Stories from South America," promises an enchanting hour of music, photography, and poetry. This concert will feature the works of Amerindian photographer Martín Chambi, Argentinian poet María Negroni, and the composers inspired by them, alongside traditional folk melodies and dances reimagined by Alberto Ginastera. The festival opening reception will follow, providing an opportunity for attendees to mingle and reflect on the day's experiences.

The program includes captivating pieces such as "Cinco Danzas de Chambi" for viola and piano by Gabriela Lena Frank, selections from "Cinco canciones populares Argentinas" by Alberto Ginastera, and works by Pablo Ortiz, performed by a stellar lineup of artists including Hsin-Yun Huang, Ieva Jokubaviciute, Lucy Fitz Gibbon, Gloria Chien, Robyn Bollinger, Peter Stumpf, and Romie de Guise-Langlois.

General admission is set at $25, with a special rate of $10 for individuals under 30, and free entry for students, making it accessible for music lovers of all ages.

Don't miss this extraordinary celebration of chamber music and cultural heritage at the Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival. Whether you're a seasoned aficionado or new to the world of chamber music, this festival promises a day filled with inspiring performances and profound musical connections.

Opening Festival Saturday

Saint Michael's College

Violist Jennifer Stumm and violinist Yura Lee assemble an electrifying cohort of up-and-coming musicians.

Rising Stars with Ilumina & Yura Lee

The Hub

Last year we introduced a new format that combines literature and meeting a current author with live classical music. It was some exciting experiences, where words and music reinforce each other. Both the concrete expression of the text and the more abstract form of the music are experienced in a new way when they are put together.

Writers' concert You are my legacy at KUMUS

KUMUS

Kunsthallen Rønnebæksholm and the local Ensemble Storstrøm continue the successful collaboration on Writers' Concerts.

Last year, Rønnebæksholm and Ensemble Storstrøm introduced a new format that combines literature and meeting a current author with live classical music. It was some exciting experiences, where words and music reinforce each other. Both the concrete expression of the text and the more abstract form of the music are experienced in a new way when they are put together.

Author concert You are my heritage at Rønnebæksholm

Rønnebæksholm

Immerse yourself in the vibrant rhythms and melodies of the Americas at the Skaneateles Festival's "Music of the Americas" concert. This special event is scheduled for Saturday, August 3, 2024, from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm, promising an unforgettable evening of diverse musical expressions.

The festival is proud to present its largest-ever Festival Orchestra, under the baton of the talented conductor Nicholas Hersch. The evening's program is a colorful journey through the music of North and South America, featuring a variety of works that celebrate the rich cultural tapestry of the continent. Highlights include Alberto Ginastera’s Harp Concerto with the harp virtuoso Bridget Kibbey, Gabriela Lena Frank’s "Escaramuza," a tribute to Inca warriors, and George Gershwin’s iconic "Rhapsody in Blue," with pianist Aaron Wunsch taking the lead. Additional pieces include James P. Johnson's arrangement of "Charleston" by Rimelis/Hersh, adding to the evening's eclectic mix.

The concert will take place at the Skaneateles Festival, a venue known for its intimate setting and exceptional acoustics, providing the perfect backdrop for the powerful performances of Rhiannon Giddens and the Dover Quartet, among others.

Tickets for this must-see event go on sale May 1, offering various purchasing options to ensure accessibility for all music lovers. Whether you prefer to order online, by phone, in person at the Skaneateles Festival Office, or even at the door on the night of the concert (subject to availability), securing your spot for this musical celebration is easy.

Mark your calendars for August 3 and prepare to be swept away by the "Music of the Americas" at the Skaneateles Festival. It's an evening that promises not only to entertain but to inspire, showcasing the incredible talent and diversity of music from across the Americas.

Music of the Americas

Be the first to experience a brand new concerto by Gabriela Lena Frank, heralded as one of the most significant women composers in history by the Washington Post. Kachkaniraqmi (“I Still Exist”) was commissioned by the Festival and will be performed by Boulder’s Grammy-winning Takács Quartet as ensemble-soloist alongside the Orchestra. After intermission, Joan Tower’s brilliant Concerto for Orchestra allows for great moments of individual virtuosity, but ultimately it is the entire Orchestra that shines. “I had imagined a long and large landscape that had a feeling of space and distance,” Tower says of her Concerto for Orchestra, in which the music “travels a long road.” This program celebrates three generations of women composers and opens with Florence Price’s Adoration, originally conceived for solo organ and performed here in its stunning arrangement for strings.

Gabriela Lena Frank’s World Premiere

Chautauqua Auditorium

Acclaimed by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune “as a performer of scintillating energy and imagination…with a fearless, fiery quality,” Aspen alumna Joyce Yang returns for Falla’s Night in the Gardens of Spain. Not quite a piano concerto, the piece can be seen as musical tribute to the composer’s beloved Andalusia. You’ll hear influences of flamenco, guitar, and in Falla’s words, “melancholy and mystery.” The concert begins with a short prayer and “serenade to the past” by Gabriela Lena Frank, inspired by the composer’s visit with her mother to the site in Peru where the Spanish defeated the Inca Empire.

AMFS: Chamber Symphony: Spano with Joyce Yang, Kelley O’Connor

Klein Music Tent

Join the BBC Symphony Orchestra, mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston and conductor Ben Palmer for a slow travel journey around the world by foot, boat and train, Friday Night is Music Night style. Presented by Petroc Trelawny.

Friday Night is Music Night with the BBC Symphony Orchestra

BBC Maida Vale Studios

The Grant Park Orchestra welcomes one of the greatest pianists of our time, Garrick Ohlsson, for Schumann's exuberant and irresistible Piano Concerto. Carlos Kalmar conducts the stormy Symphony No. 6 by Prokofiev and Apu by the Northern California-native Gabriela Lena Frank, who brings her own multicultural heritage (American, Lithuanian, Jewish, Peruvian and Chinese) into captivating musical expressions.

Schumann Piano Concerto

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.

Composer, Pianist

Gabriela Lena Frank

Events

Upcoming events

Jul 1, 2026

2026 Cain Park Community Concert · The Cleveland Orchestra

Jul 25, 2026

Ilumina · Wigmore Hall

Nov 14, 2026

Beethoven’s Fifth · Wilmington Symphony Orchestra

16 - 30 Jan, 2027

El último sueño de Frida y Diego · Seattle Opera

Apr 10, 2027

Takács Quartet · Spivey Hall

Past events

Jun 20, 2026

Brooklyn Rider · Wigmore Hall

12 - 13 Jun, 2026

Brahms Symphony No. 4 · Grant Park Music Festival

About

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