Name: War and Peace: Haydn, Vaughan Williams, and Mazzoli
Start: 2026-04-19T13:00:00
Location: Denver Performing Arts Complex

From the majestic orchestral sounds at Bravo! Vail to the classic holiday charm of Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Colorado's 2025-2026 music season offers a rich tapestry of events. Join the New York Philharmonic and Colorado Symphony as they present timeless works by Ravel, Mozart, and Handel, alongside contemporary pieces that resonate with today's audiences. With renowned conductors and soloists like Rafael Payare, Paul Huang, and Seong-Jin Cho, these events promise an unforgettable journey through music, history, and emotion.

A Symphony of Seasons: Exploring Colorado's Diverse Musical Landscape

Embark on an extraordinary musical journey with the Colorado Symphony and New York Philharmonic, as they present a series of captivating concerts. From the enchanting orchestral compositions celebrating Ravel and Mozart to the beloved holiday classics of Home Alone 2 and Handel's Messiah, these events promise an exploration of rich musical traditions and contemporary reinterpretations. Guided by renowned conductors and talented performers, these symphonic experiences not only honor the great composers of the past but also bring forth the voices of modern creators, ensuring an unforgettable experience for all music lovers.

A Symphony of Stories: Celebrating Iconic Musical Moments

This spring, the Colorado Symphony invites you to an enthralling series of musical events that juxtapose the timeless genius of Mozart, the evocative narratives of war and peace, and the profound existential musings of Mahler. Over several weekends, the Symphony will guide audiences through contrasting soundscapes, from the elegant compositions of Mozart to modern works by contemporary composers, and from the haunting echoes of war to Mahler's monumental exploration of life's deepest questions.

A Symphony of Stories: Mozart, Mahler, and the Echoes of War

In 2026, the Colorado Symphony is set to redefine the musical landscape with a series of concerts that blend classical masterpieces with contemporary compositions. From the innovative 'Mozart and Now' weekend to the evocative 'War and Peace' program, and culminating with Mahler’s monumental 'Resurrection Symphony,' audiences will experience a celebration of music that bridges past and present. Conductors Peter Oundjian and Taylor Martin lead these stellar performances at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, promising an engaging journey through time, emotion, and the universal quest for understanding.

Exploring Timeless Music: Colorado Symphony's Dynamic 2026 Concerts

Taylor Martin

Colorado Symphony Chorus

Colorado Symphony

In declining physical and mental health, Tchaikovsky struggled with profound inner turmoil while composing his intensely introspective and emotionally charged Sixth Symphony. Using music as an outlet for his anguish, longing, and profound despair, he poured his soul into a work that is as far-reaching as it is personal. His death just nine days after its premiere only added weight to this defining work of the Romantic period. One of the many legends that surround the work is that Tchaikovsky’s brother Modest came up with the name "Pathétique" which in his native Russian suggests “impassioned suffering.” Whether or not the composer acquiesced to this christening before his sudden death, it is uncannily suitable for the devastating psychological drama the symphony lays bare. In the hands of Jaime Martín, time-worn scores like Tchaikovsky’s quickly turn into fresh, spellbinding moments, an ability which has quickly cemented him as a favorite guest collaborator of your Colorado Symphony.

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 "Pathétique"

Denver Performing Arts Complex

Spend your Valentine’s Day with Pink Martini and the Colorado Symphony! Brimming with “fizzy spirit and breezy sophistication” (Chicago Sun-Times), Pink Martini is a glamorous and global phenomenon. Say “oui” to an exhilarating evening featuring a mix of Brazilian samba, Parisian café music, cabaret, and vintage jazz as this Denver favorite returns, featuring lead singer Storm Large. Now in their 31st year of performing, Pink Martini was founded by bandleader/pianist Thomas M. Lauderdale in 1994 to provide beautiful and inclusive performances at fundraisers and galas with a style inspired by Latin, big band, classical, and the Golden Age of Hollywood. With the Colorado Symphony and Christopher Dragon on the podium, this is a Valentine's Day weekend celebration you won't forget.

Valentine's Day with Pink Martini

Denver favorite Olga Kern returns, lending dazzling technique and searing musicianship to Shostakovich’s witty Piano Concerto No. 1. The piece – a rule-breaking, neo-baroque romp filled with sardonic humor, parody, and fleeting musical quotes – is actually a double concerto supported by string orchestra in which the piano converses with solo trumpet, played by our inimitable Principal Trumpet Justin Bartels.

Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 1 with Olga Kern

Bruce Hornsby has built one of the most diverse, collaborative, and adventurous careers in contemporary music. Drawing from a vast wellspring of American musical traditions, the singer/pianist/composer/bandleader has created a large and accomplished body of work and employed a vast array of stylistic approaches. Throughout this period, he’s maintained the integrity, virtuosity, and artistic curiosity that have been hallmarks of his work from the start.

Bruce Hornsby with the Colorado Symphony

Peppa Pig, along with Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig, and George, visit Boettcher Concert Hall for Peppa Pig: My First Concert - a fun, interactive introduction to a live orchestra for ages 18 months and older. Peppa and George learn all about the different sounds that instruments make together and enjoy some of their favourite music from the show played by Southbank Sinfonia, as well as discovering some other exciting orchestral pieces perfect for children. Little piggies can join in with Peppa and her family, and make music of their own!

Peppa Pig: My First Concert

History is replete with turning points, and with the "Eroica" (Heroic), Beethoven forever changed the idea of what a symphony could be. Beethoven’s passion rises to the forefront in this work, using broad strokes of sound to convey the very nature of humanity while reimagining a future for music filled with endless possibilities. With his deft mastery of late-Classical music, Markus Stenz is a perfect fit to lead a piece which advances the symphonic genre into a full exploration of what it means to be human.

Beethoven Symphony No. 3 "Eroica"

Your Colorado Symphony continues its shared vision of music education with the Denver Young Artists Orchestra (DYAO) and Wilbur Lin, Colorado Symphony Associate Conductor and Music Director of DYAO. Celebrate this partnership that provides young musicians with access and mentorship from the professional musicians of the Colorado Symphony.

DYAO Side-by-Side

Join international piano superstar Lang Lang and your Colorado Symphony for a special one-night-only event featuring Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto. This early work combines the emergence of Beethoven’s unmistakable voice with the undeniable optimism of youth, electric in the hands of a pianist of Lang Lang’s stature. This will be a must-see evening led by Music Director Peter Oundjian.

Lang Lang with the Colorado Symphony

Marimba, bongos, bass drums, woodblocks, log drums, boo-bams, Chinese cymbals, metal trash cans, darbukas, talking drums, plastic pipe, acoustic guitar, toy trumpet, tablespoons, Burma gongs, water can, crow call, tambourine, gankogui, and sleigh bells! These are just some of the instruments that the virtuoso percussionists of your Colorado Symphony will be using in this dynamic concert that is fun for the entire family. Experience mesmerizing rhythms and surprising melodies as this one-of-a-kind performance brings the world of percussion to life.

Drums of the World

From the opening blasts of Verdi’s La forza Overture to the last breaths of the star-crossed lovers in Prokofiev’s enchanting ballet score, this program promises to be a memorable journey you won’t experience anywhere else. Music Director Peter Oundjian has hand-selected highlights from Romeo and Juliet in a specially curated suite for the concert hall, featuring unforgettable moments in Prokofiev’s retelling like the famous “balcony scene,” and the intense drama of The Death of Tybalt.

Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet with Peter Oundjian

The spirit of adventure is calling as your Colorado Symphony and beloved Conductor Laureate Marin Alsop present Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, an exhilarating journey through love, intrigue, and suspense. This poignant adaptation of the classic Arabian Nights tale casts the violin as the cunning Scheherazade, who outwits her murderous Sultan husband through the telling of enchanting stories. Rimsky-Korsakov’s score is filled with dynamic emotion and riveting melodies that will instantly transport you into a fairytale world.

Marin Alsop Conducts Scheherazade

Your Colorado Symphony and Chorus present an evocative program uniting music born from the shadows of war, offering a journey through conflict, grief, and the search for peace. Two movements from Handel’s Messiah set the stage with a searing portrayal of nations at war. Haydn’s Mass in Time of War continues the narrative, its solemn prayers for peace interrupted by martial rhythms that reflect the looming threat of Napoleon’s armies. Missy Mazzoli’s These Worlds in Us – a haunting orchestral work inspired by her father’s service in Vietnam – intertwines grief and resilience, merging vulnerability with militaristic energy. Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem closes the program with an urgent cry for peace, drawing on sacred texts and Walt Whitman’s poetry, while offering a vision of hope. Through these works, the Colorado Symphony and Chorus remind us that even in humanity’s darkest hours, the struggle to find harmony is urgent and eternal.

War and Peace: Haydn, Vaughan Williams, and Mazzoli

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