Cellist Joshua Roman will join the Baltimore Symphony for the world premiere of James Lee III’s Cello Concerto on May 1-4, part of a season exploring the works of Baltimore native Lee. The program, under the direction of Jonathan Heyward, also includes Elgar’s Froissart and Brahms’ lush and rhythmically complex Symphony No. 1. https://my.bsomusic.org/18937/18994
May 2 marks the world premiere of Gulli Björnsson’s ljósíd (light), performed by members of the Seattle Symphony, featuring JIJI on electroacoustic guitar & electronics with visuals by Björnsson. This performance is part of the SSO’s Octave 9 series. https://www.seattlesymphony.org/en/concerttickets/calendar/2024-2025/24octave5
At the West Virginia Symphony’s season finale on May 3, music director Maurice Cohn will focus on Ravel: Suite No. 2 from Daphnis et Chloé and Bolero. In the first half of the concert, the West Virginia Youth Symphony will play onstage with the pros for Gabriela Ortiz’s Antrópolis. Then Joyce Yang will solo in […]
On May 3, Benjamin Britten’s Noah’s Flood will be performed by Boston Lyric Opera in collaboration with Boston Children’s Chorus, Boston String Academy, Back Bay Ringers, Boston Symphony Orchestra, New England Conservatory Preparatory School, and more. Conductor David Angus will rally the forces in what promises to be an epic experience for the whole family. https://blo.org/noahs-flood/
While Grieg’s Peer Gynt is an orchestral standard, staging the work is a novel idea. This production, written and directed by Bill Barclay adapted from the play by Henrik Ibsen, will feature the St. Louis Symphony conducted by Stéphane Denève. Swedish soprano Camilla Tilling is a guest soloist for this May 3 performance, which promises to […]
Late Night with Leonard Bernstein is a portrait of the personal side of one of the 20th century’s most charismatic and public figures. Hosted by his daughter Jamie, the performance features three stellar performers – soprano Amy Burton and pianists John Musto and Michael Boriskin. Presented by Calgary Pro Music on April 5. https://calgarypromusica.ca/horizons-series-3/
Venezuelan trumpet virtuoso Pacho Flores will join the Houston Symphony to play two concertos, both composed specifically for him: Arturo Márquez’s fiery Concierto de Otoño and Paquito D’Rivera’s jazzy Venezuelan Concerto. Domingo Hindoyan leads the orchestra through a bewitching array of music inspired by Spain, ending with Ravel’s Boléro. (May 9-11) https://houstonsymphony.org/tickets/concerts/ravels-bolero/
The Madison Symphony closes its season May 9-11 with an all-Gershwin program under the baton of John DeMain. The Cuban Overture gets things off to an energetic start, followed by Philippe Bianconi as soloist in the Piano Concert in F major. Soprano Michelle Johnson and baritone Eric Greene will join the Madison Symphony Chorus in […]
Beethoven is the odd man out in this otherwise all-female lineup at the Las Vegas Philharmonic, conducted by and featuring pianist Rei Hotoda. Works include Clyne’s Sound and Fury, Higdon’s “Breeze Serenade” from Dance Card, and Montgomery’s Rounds. The May 10 season finale concludes with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7. https://lvphil.org/events/beethovensseventh/
In an intriguing twist, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center is celebrating Beethoven with a concert of music by other people. The May 13 line-up includes works by living composers who have been influenced by Beethoven: Jessie Montgomery, Evgeny Kissin, Brett Dean, Jörg Widmann, and Tan Dun. https://www.chambermusicsociety.org/our-concerts/at-lincoln-center/events/24-25/montgomery-widmann-and-tan-dun/
Conductor and composer Tan Dun conducts the Seattle Symphony in a program featuring two of his works on May 15-16. The first is Nu Shu: The Secret Songs of Women, inspired by the remote Chinese language Nüshu, which women use to pass down knowledge of their own unique traditions, mother to daughter. Sound River delves […]
Cellist Johannes Moser will play the world premiere of Anna Thorvaldsdottir’s new cello concerto with the San Francisco Symphony on May 15-17. Dalia Stasevska conducts this program, which also includes Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances. https://www.sfsymphony.org/Buy-Tickets/2024-25/stasevska-rachmaninoff
Music director Xian Zhang leads the New Jersey Symphony in a May 16-18 program bookended by Mozart (Eine kleine Nachtmusik and the 35th Symphony, Haffner). Violinists Eric Wyrick and Francine Storck will duet in Bach’s Double Concerto, and a string quartet will sit in front of the orchestra for Michael Abels’ Delights and Dances. https://www.njsymphony.org/events/detail/xian-conducts-mozart-1 […]
On May 17-18, the Harrisburg Symphony will play the world premiere of a new work by Zev Malina, son of music director Stuart Malina. As the program’s name, “Malina Madness 2.0,” implies, this father-son team has collaborated before. The concert also includes Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue (with the conductor at the piano) and music from […]
Composer-in-residence Oswald Huỳnh’s third commission for the Illinois Philharmonic will receive its world premiere on May 17 in a program featuring Peter Richard Conte performing Poulenc’s Organ Concerto. Elgar’s Enigma Variations conclude the program, conducted by Stilian Kirov. https://ipomusic.org/2024-25-season/
The Tulsa Symphony’s season finale on May 17 includes Oscar Navarro’s joyful Downey Overture for Orchestra, which the composer describes as “a Latin-American fusion.” Debussy’s gorgeous Nocturnes and Rachmaninoff’s lush and dramatic Symphony No. 2 will be led by guest conductor Marcelo Lehninger. https://www.tulsasymphony.org/calendar/vii-debussy-and-rachmaninoff
Upcoming New York Philharmonic music direct Gustavo Dudamel will lead the orchestra in the world premiere of a new work by singer and composer Kate Soper, whose vocal performance will mark her NY Phil debut. Two symphonies round out the May 22-24 program: Stravinsky’s Symphony in Three Movements and Philip Glass’ Symphony No. 11. https://www.nyphil.org/concerts-tickets/2425/dudamel-soper/ […]
In the San Diego Symphony’s May 23-25 season finale, mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill makes her debut with the ensemble. She will sing in Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 in D minor, under the baton of music director Rafael Payare. https://www.sandiegosymphony.org/performances/ode-to-nature-payare-conducts-mahlers-symphony-no-3/
Bruce Liu makes his Houston Symphony debut on May 23-25 with Chopin’s impassioned and poetic Piano Concerto No. 1. Music director Juraj Valčuha leads this program, which also includes George Walkers’ Icarus in Orbit and Schumann’s hope-filled Symphony No. 2. https://houstonsymphony.org/tickets/concerts/bruce-liu-plays-chopin/
The Indianapolis Symphony will present the world premiere of James Beckel’s Double Bass Concerto on May 30-31, with ISO Principal Bass Ju-Fang Liu as soloist. This program, conducted by David Danzmayr, also includes A Short Piece for Orchestra by Julia Perry and Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony. https://www.indianapolissymphony.org/event/tchaikovskys-5th-symphony/
We usually hear Bach’s orchestral suites programmed one at a time, along with other repertoire. May 31-June 1 is a rare chance to immerse yourself in the genre, when music director Jaime Martín leads the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra in all four of the suites. It promises to be a season finale to remember. https://www.laco.org/events/martin-bach/ […]
June 1-8 offers a rare opportunity to hear Wagner’s complete Tristan und Isolde in concert. The Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, will host tenor Stuart Skelton and soprano Nina Stemme as the love-torn title characters. https://www.philorch.org/performances/our-season/events-and-tickets/2024-2025-season/verizon-hall/wagners-tristan-and-isolde/
