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/
Eugene Opera will present Nico Muhly’s Dark Sisters on May 30-31. Dark Sisters follows one woman’s dangerous attempt to escape her life as a member of the FLDS Church (Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints). The production features a four-piece chamber orchestra conducted by Andrew Bisantz https://eugeneopera.org/upcoming-productions/dark-sisters/
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/
On June 5-8, Baltimore Symphony music director Jonathon Heyward will lead the orchestra in the world premiere of James Lee III’s Concerto for Orchestra. This is one of a series of concerts and educational programs focusing on the works of Lee, who is a native of Baltimore. Yefim Bronfman takes the stage for Beethoven’s Piano […]
Detroit Symphony music director Jader Bignamini leads a world premiere by Pulitzer Prize-winner Michael Abels (known for composing the scores to Jordan Peele’s films Get Out, Us, and Nope) and the Detroit premiere of Leokadiya Kashperova’s lyrical Symphony in B minor. Behzod Abduraimov is the featured guest, playing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. (June 5-7) https://www.dso.org/events-and-tickets/events/24-25-spring/tchaikovskys-piano-concerto
The world premiere of Reza Vali’s newest work will occur June 6-8, with Manfred Honeck conducting the Pittsburgh Symphony. Alice Sara Ott will play Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3, and soprano Lilit Davtyan will be the soprano soloist in Mahler’s Fourth Symphony. https://www.pittsburghsymphony.org/production/92965/beethoven-mahler-plus-world-premiere
Members of the Albany Symphony, calling themselves Dogs of Desire, will present an evening of new music on June 6, with David Alan Miller conducting. Featured composers will include Dai Wei, Tanner Porter, Juhi Bansal, JUAKHAN, and Brent Michael Davids. https://www.albanysymphony.com/upcomingconcerts/2025/6/13/dogs-of-desire
The American Symphony Orchestra, under Leon Botstein, will present a rarely performed opera at Carnegie Hall on June 6. Guntram was Richard Strauss’ first opera; the young composer’s mastery of orchestral writing combines with the ethereal melodic arcs that anticipate his later, famous operas. Also featuring the Bard Festival Chorale. https://americansymphony.org/concerts/strauss-guntram/
A new work by Gabriella Smith, on the theme of climate action, will receive its world premiere June 6-8 with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the San Francisco Symphony. The program also features Jean Sibelius’s Symphony No. 7, the composer’s final symphony, as well as two of Richard Strauss’s tone poems—Don Juan and Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks. https://www.sfsymphony.org/Buy-Tickets/2024-25/salonen-sibelius7
On June 7, the American Music Festival, an evening hosted by the Albany Symphony, will present the world premiere of Bobby Ge’s Water Music. Global sensations Third Coast Percussion will be on hand to play Clarice Assad’s Percussion Concerto, and Stephen Williamson will solo in Christopher Theofanidis’ Clarinet Concerto. https://www.albanysymphony.com/upcomingconcerts/2025/6/14/american-music-festival-water-music
Principal flute Demarre McGill performs the West Coast premiere of Allison Loggins-Hull’s Flute Concerto with the Seattle Symphony on June 12-22. Conductor emeritus Ludovic Morlot will also lead two beloved symphonic works by Ravel: Bolero and Rapsodie espagnole. https://www.seattlesymphony.org/en/concerttickets/calendar/2024-2025/24sub21
Notes & Frames: A Film and Music Festival is a three-week initiative by the National Symphony. On June 20-21, the festival culminates in a world premiere by Academy Award®–winning director, composer, and pianist Kris Bowers, who will curate and perform a program of contemporary film music to be conducted by Anthony Parnther. https://www.kennedy-center.org/nso/home/2024-2025/kris-bowers/
Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress closes the Des Moines Metro Opera’s season. Its libretto by W. H. Auden and Chester Kallman was inspired by William Hogarth’s famous series of paintings about a man’s path to ruin. Featuring Jonas Hacker as Tom Rakewell and Joélle Harvey and Anne Trulove. (July 5-18) https://desmoinesmetroopera.org/productions/rake/
