After a record-breaking run in 2024, Brandon Ragland’s The Nutcracker returns, bringing holiday magic back to Dayton! Set in our very own city, this beloved tale follows Clara on a breathtaking, time-traveling adventure filled with dazzling choreography, enchanting sets and costumes, and Tchaikovsky’s iconic score. A heartwarming tradition for all ages, The Nutcracker is the perfect way to celebrate the season with family and loved ones.

EPSG:4326

The Nutcracker

Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center

Inspired by paintings of Georgia O’Keeffe, composer Elena Ruehr’s “Sky Above Clouds” is the middle movement of a musical triptych and perfectly captures O’Keeffe’s flair for contemporary sweeping tableaus. The dramatic evening continues with two orchestral heavyweights: Brahms’s Symphony No. 3 and Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto, widely considered to be among his greatest works.

Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto

Songs from Nashville is a honky-tonkin’ celebration of Country music, past and present! The night features classic Country hits from legendary stars Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash to contemporary artists like Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, and Kacey Musgraves. Brand new symphonic arrangements performed by the Dayton Philharmonic—along with Nashville’s brightest vocalists and instrumentalists—reignite your favorite tunes.

Country Hits: Songs from Nashville

Experience the ultimate tribute to the legendary crooner, Tony Bennett. Arranged for multiple singers and performed by the Dayton Philharmonic, the concert includes a multi-media display of images and videos from throughout his career. Hits such as “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” “Because of You,” “The Best is Yet to Come,” and more fill the Schuster Center, saluting Bennett’s 60-plus year career.

The Music of Tony Bennett

Podcast link: https://youtu.be/4hagYvrYbuM

The Artelize Podcast and Kasper Holten - Pedefining Opera for the modern world

Podcast link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d36M5Hi6O80

The Artelize Podcast - A legacy of innovation in Opera: Celebrating Marc A. Scorca

Podcast link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59E40S_EQSY

The Artelize Podcast: A love letter that was never sent

Podcast link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THv6htilWtI

The Artelize Podcast and Adolfo Corrado: Mediterranean flavors, opera and social media

In 1990, three great operatic tenors gave a legendary concert of the best arias in the canon. More than 800 million viewers tuned in, and the recording of this concert became the best-selling classical album of all time! Dayton Opera pays homage to this historic event as three rising stars on the operatic stage perform much of the same repertoire of the original concert, led by Dayton’s own, Howard Watkins, as music director and pianist. Featuring opera’s greatest arias to Broadway, Neapolitan, and Zarzuela songs, this concert will have you yelling “Encore!”

Three Tenors, Encore!

Have a royal ball at this classic retelling of Cinderella, choreographed by Artistic Director Brandon Ragland to Prokofiev’s sparkling score. Cinderella yearns to escape from her life as a scullery maid to her mean and jealous stepsisters. Enter her Fairy Godmother, a handsome prince, a little help and a lot of magic, and Cinderella gets a glimpse of living happily ever after!

Cinderella

Brush away those winter blues and celebrate spring early with BUGS!! In this fun interactive concert, the Philharmonic and Dayton Ballet School Ensemble mimic the wiggle, flutter, and leap of crawly insects, butterflies, beetles, and even grasshoppers! Selections include Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumblebee,” Grieg’s “Morning” from Peer Gynt, and music from Spider-Man (Elfman).

Magic Carpet Concerts: BUGS!!

Grab some popcorn and enjoy the sounds of the Philharmonic as they present selections of the most majestic and beautiful music written for some of the world’s greatest films! Experience the thrill of blockbuster movie themes from “Gone with the Wind,” “The Magnificent Seven,” “Dr. Zhivago,” “Lawrence of Arabia,” “James Bond,” “The Pink Panther,” “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “Dances with Wolves,” “Ben-Hur,” and many more! The DPO is the star of this memorable evening of iconic and beloved film music classics!

Hollywood Hits

Twist & Shout celebrates The Beatles in America, beginning with their 1964 appearance on the “Ed Sullivan Show” and following their journey to the Shea Stadium and Hollywood Bowl appearances that brought Beatlemania and the British invasion into the hearts of Americans everywhere. Enjoy a night of early hits like “She Loves You,” “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” “Ticket to Ride,” “Yesterday,” and many more!

Twist & Shout: The Music of the Beatles

“Seven Last Words of the Unarmed” is inspired by the final words of seven unarmed black men: Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., Trayvon Martin, Amadou Diallo, Michael Brown Jr., Oscar Grant III, John Crawford III, and Eric Garner. Bookending the piece are two contrasting works by Lili Boulanger and Fauré’s expressive and beautiful Requiem.

Requiem

At its heart, Verdi’s majestic opera, Aida" class="css-u850">Aida, is an intimate story of love—forbidden and unrequited—enmeshed in a struggle for imperial power between Egypt and Ethiopia. Aida, an Ethiopian princess held in captivity, secretly falls in love with the handsome general leading the war against her homeland. Full of large, lush musical moments, a massive chorus, grand sets, and dazzling costumes, Aida transports you to a time of romance and spectacle.

Verdi’s Aida

Cellist Adrian Daurov returns to the Schuster to perform the Dvořák Cello Concerto, one of the most lyrical and monumental concertos in the cello repertoire. Surrounding the piece are two brilliant works that are comedic though a tad eerie—Stravinsky’s Petrushka ballet score and Mozart’s Don Giovanni Overture.

Dvořák’s Cello Concerto

By any definition, music moves! Soundwaves move through time and space from high to low. Composers and performers use expressive qualities to move us emotionally. Music also compels us to move physically through dance. In this exuberant, interactive program, Patrick Reynolds and the Philharmonic perform music inspired by dance to discover all the ways in which the orchestra moves—and can move us! Along the way, audiences are encouraged to sing, move and groove, and even make a little music of their own.

Young People’s Concert: The Orchestra Moves

Tony-nominated pop/jazz singer-songwriter, Ann Hampton Callaway joins Neal Gittleman and the Philharmonic on the DPO stage for a night of classics made famous by some of the biggest names in the business—Barbra Streisand, Carole King, Patti LuPone, Liza Minnelli, Karrin Allyson, and Michael Feinstein, to name a few! Spoil yourself with a spellbinding show of rousing showstoppers, exquisite ballads, and lovely symphonic harmonies.

Ann Hampton Callaway

A kaleidoscope of musical brilliance awaits as the talented young musicians of the DPYO take the stage for the pinnacle performance of the season! The Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra unites the area’s most gifted young orchestral musicians to study and perform a broad range of orchestral repertoire. Support the youth in our community and see the classical music stars of tomorrow!

Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Spring Concert

Celebrate Memorial Day weekend at Carillon Park with a sensational concert by the Philharmonic! Bring your chair or blanket—but leave the cooler at home—and enjoy patriotic tunes, rousing marches, and more at this family-friendly festival full of fun activities, food, and more!

Memorial Day Celebration Concert

Carillon Historical Park

Experience an unforgettable evening with Michael Cavanaugh featuring the music of Paul Simon, James Taylor, and Neil Diamond! Handpicked by Billy Joel to star in the Broadway musical Movin’ Out, Cavanaugh earned both Tony and Grammy-Award nominations in the lead role. He has captivated audiences worldwide and Billboard has heralded him as “The New Voice of the American Rock and Roll Songbook.” Now, Cavanaugh brings his extraordinary talent to the music of legendary singer-songwriters Paul Simon, James Taylor, and Neil Diamond.

Michael Cavanaugh

Saint-Saëns’s symphony is known as “THE organ symphony” and for good reason: the sweet and familiar melodies hung between moments of blazing climactic glory will have audiences at the edge of their seats. Each movement is better than the last! Leading up to this epic work is an organ concerto by Handel, which has inspired composers for centuries. Also on the program is a new work by Derrick Skye, “Nova Plexus,” co-commissioned by DPAA, the Berkeley Symphony, and BBC Radio 3.

Saint-Saëns’s Organ Symphony

The DPYO takes your family on a musical spin around the globe! This performance highlights not only the finest young musical talent in our area, it also celebrates the rich tradition of dance in Dayton and features the Celtic Academy of Irish Dance. The program includes popular global dance works such as Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, Saint-Saëns’s “Danse Bacchanale,” and Marquez’s Danzón No. 2.

Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra: It’s a World of Dance

The second chamber performance by the DPO String Principals Quartet is all about the journey! Beethoven’s 12th String Quartet, initially met with poor reception, has since transformed into a beacon of his profound originality and introspection. This evolution is a fascinating journey in itself. And despite being stifled by WW2-era social norms and musical stereotypes, Germaine Tailleferre was always respected by her peers. Only recently has the world come to recognize her distinct musical voice. Finally, contemporary composer/vanguard Caroline Shaw, with her ‘Plan & Elevation,’ uses musical and architectural metaphors to illustrate how “the actual journey and results are quite different than the original plan.”

Events in Dayton, OH

The Nutcracker

Dayton Performing Arts

Beethoven’s Emperor Conce...

Dayton Performing Arts

Country Hits: Songs from ...

Dayton Performing Arts

The Music of Tony Bennett...

Dayton Performing Arts

The Artelize Podcast and ...

Artelize

The Artelize Podcast - A ...

Artelize

The Artelize Podcast: A l...

Artelize

The Artelize Podcast and ...

Artelize

Three Tenors, Encore!

Dayton Performing Arts

Cinderella

Dayton Performing Arts

Magic Carpet Concerts: BU...

Dayton Performing Arts

Hollywood Hits

Dayton Performing Arts

Twist & Shout: The Music ...

Dayton Performing Arts

Requiem

Dayton Performing Arts

Verdi’s Aida

Dayton Performing Arts

Dvořák’s Cello Concerto

Dayton Performing Arts

Young People’s Concert: T...

Dayton Performing Arts

Ann Hampton Callaway

Dayton Performing Arts

Dayton Philharmonic Youth...

Dayton Performing Arts

Memorial Day Celebration ...

Dayton Performing Arts

Michael Cavanaugh

Dayton Performing Arts

Saint-Saëns’s Organ Symph...

Dayton Performing Arts

Dayton Philharmonic Youth...

Dayton Performing Arts

Chamber Music: Beethoven ...

Dayton Performing Arts