Hrůša Makes Carnegie Podium Debut

Leading the Bamberg Symphony, conductor Jakub Hrůša will make his Carnegie Hall debut on April 24. In an evening of Romantic powerhouse works, the Brahms Third Symphony and Schumann’s Piano Concerto are bookended by Wagner. Hélène Grimaud will play the Schumann. https://www.carnegiehall.org/calendar/2024/04/24/bamberg-symphony-0800pm

Dressner’s ‘Mari’ Taps Basque Myths

Conductor Daniele Rustioni, music director of the Ulster Orchestra, makes his National Symphony debut May 9-11, conducting the East Coast premiere of Bryce Dessner’s Mari, an NSO co-commission inspired by a forest goddess in Basque mythology. Benjamin Grosvenor will play Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 before the orchestra follows Berlioz’s autobiographical journey through love and […]

Elim Chan Makes Minnesota Podium Debut

Hong Kong-born conductor Elim Chan makes her Minnesota Orchestra debut with a May 9-10 program that opens with Unsuk Chin’s subito con forza. Benjamin Beilman plays Korngold’s Violin Concerto, and the program closes with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2, inspired by Ukrainian folk tunes. https://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/tickets/calendar/classical/tchaikovsky-korngold-and-chin/

Joseph Young Makes MKE Podium Debut

Joseph Young makes his debut on the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s podium conducting Dvořák’s Ninth Symphony, From the New World on May 10-11. Alexi Kenny will be the guest soloist for Barber’s Violin Concerto. https://www.mso.org/concerts/dvoraks-new-world/  

New work by Métis composer

Fast-rising violinist Randall Goosby makes his Toronto Symphony debut playing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto on June 7-9. The program, conducted by Gustavo Gimeno, starts with the world premiere of Ikiru by Métis composer Ian Cusson, created in partnership with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). After intermission, the orchestra will play Bartók’s Divertimento […]

American Music for Reed Quintet at Bravo! Vail

The Akropolis Reed Quintet makes its Bravo! Vail debut on July 9. Their program includes works by two American composers: Marc Mellits’ Splinter and Jeff Scott’s Homage to Paradise Valley. https://www.bravovail.org/performances/community-concerts/communityconcerts-2/akropolis-reed-quintet/

Rouvali Leads Prokovief in Vail Debut

Finnish guest conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali makes his Bravo! Vail debut, leading the Philharmonic in Rossini’s Semiramide Overture, Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5, and Shostakovich’s virtuosic Violin Concerto No. 1, performed by Augustin Hadelich. (July 23) https://www.bravovail.org/performances/orchestral-series/new-york-philharmonic-2/augustin-hadelich-plays-shostakovich/

Pianist Buechner Makes Saskatoon Debut

The Saskatoon Symphony opens its classical season Sept. 21 with the debut of Sara Davis Buechner playing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. Tania Miller conducts this program, which also includes Elgar’s Enigma Variations. https://saskatoonsymphony.org/event/enigma/

Bruce Liu Debuts in Cincinnati Season Opener

The Cincinnati Symphony opens the 2024-25 season Sept. 27-28 with Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, Titan, led by guest conductor Dalia Stasevska. The program also includes Alberto Ginastera’s “Malambo” from Four Dances from Estancia and Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3, featuring Chopin Piano Competition winner Bruce Liu in his CSO debut. https://www.cincinnatisymphony.org/tickets-and-events/buy-tickets/cso/2425-cso-season/mahler-symphony-no.-1/

Organist Makes Alabama Symphony Debut

Organist Patrick Scott will make his debut with the Alabama Symphony on Sept. 27-28, playing Saint-Saëns’s Organ Sympony No. 3. The program, conducted by music director Carlos Izcaray, opens with Shostakovich’s Festive Overture, and Amaryn Olmeda solos in Barber’s Violin Concerto. https://alabamasymphony.org/events/barber-saint-saens/

Gropius Quartet Opens Vancouver Series

The Germany-based Gropius Quartet makes its debut with Friends of Chamber Music (Vancouver) on Oct. 15. They will play Haydn’s Op. 33, No. 2 (the Joke), Shostakovich’s Quartet No. 8, and Mendelssohn’s Quartet No. 6. https://friendsofchambermusic.ca/concert/gropius-quartet/  

Zeitouni’s Milwaukee Debut Focuses on France

On Oct. 25-26, conductor Jean-Marie Zeitouni will make his Milwaukee Symphony debut, leading the orchestra in an evening of avant-garde French music. The works include Lily Boulanger’s D’un matin de printemps, Ravel’s Shéhérazade, and Poulenc’s Gloria (featuring the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus and soprano Joélle Harvey). https://www.mso.org/concerts/poulencs-gloria/62513/

Violinist Debuts in Des Moines with Brahms

Violinist Geneva Lewis makes her debut with the Des Moines Symphony on Oct. 26-27 playing the Brahms Violin Concerto. Conducted by Joseph Giunta, the progarm also includes Still’s Serenade and Sibelius’ Fifth Symphony. https://www.dmsymphony.org/concerts-events/lewis-plays-brahms/

‘Time’s River’ Brings Debut Oboist to National Symphony

Gianandrea Noseda leads the National Symphony and oboist Alexei Ogrintchouk in the U.S. premiere of Alexander Raskatov’s Oboe Concerto, Time’s River, on Oct. 31-Nov. 2. Prokofiev’s Summer Night opens the program, which ends with Tchaikovsky’s sweeping Pathétique Symphony No. 6. https://www.kennedy-center.org/nso/home/2024-2025/noseda-ogrintchouk/

Labadie Takes San Diego Podium for First Time

Conductor Bernard Labadie will make his debut with the San Diego Symphony on Nov. 9-10. The program includes two Mozart works—the overtures to The Magic Flute and La clemenza di Tito—as well as Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 (with Jonathan Biss) and Haydn’s Drum Roll Symphony No. 103. https://www.sandiegosymphony.org/performances/biss-plays-beethoven/

In New Las Vegas Role, Slatkin Conducts Weill, Gershwin

Leonard Slatkin conducts his first concert as Artistic Consultant of the Las Vegas Philharmonic on Nov. 9, leading vocalists Storm Large and the Hudson Shad Quartet in Weill/Brecht’s The Seven Deadly Sins. Also on the program are Hovhaness’ Symphony No. 2, The Mysterious Mountain, and Gershwin’s An American in Paris. https://lvphil.org/events/slatkin-conducts-gershwin/

Huang Debuts in Toledo with Mozart

Violinist Paul Huang makes his Toledo Symphony debut performing Mozart's dazzling fourth violin concerto. Conducted byAlain Trudel, this Nov. 9 prgram opens with Schubert’s Rosamunde Overture and concludes with Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4, Romantic. https://www.artstoledo.com/masterworks-24-25  

Stern to Debut on Madison Podium

Madison Symphony welcomes the debut of conductor Michael Stern on Nov. 15-17, when Garrick Ohlsson solos in Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor. The program opens with Jonathan Leshnoff’s Rush and concludes with Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony. https://madisonsymphony.org/event/momentum/

Tesori’s ‘Blue’ Comes to Chicago Lyric

Bass Kenneth Kellogg makes his Lyric Opera of Chicago debut in Blue, by Jeanine Tesori and co-commissioned by the Lyric. The cast also includes mezzo-soprano Zoie Reams and baritone Norman Garrett in this production directed by Tazewell Thompson. (Nov. 16-Dec. 1) https://www.lyricopera.org/shows/upcoming/2024-25/blue/

Hough Premieres His Piano Quintet in NYC

Pianist and composer Stephen Hough makes his debut with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center on Nov. 24. The program combines Liszt’s virtuosic sonata with works by Chopin and Cécile Chaminade. Hough is joined by the enthralling Viano Quartet for the world premiere of his Piano Quintet. https://www.chambermusicsociety.org/our-concerts/at-lincoln-center/events/24-25/an-evening-with-sir-stephen-hough/

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