Coming to Fort Worth from a galaxy far, far away—experience Star Wars: The Force Awakens with five-time Academy Award®-winning composer John Williams’ score performed live to film by the FWSO. “You must feel the Force around you...” and hear it too!

Stars of the Symphony is an evening like no other, showcasing the extraordinary talent of the FWSO musicians in virtuosic roles. This performance is a rare opportunity to witness members of the orchestra taking the spotlight and performing some of the most beautiful and challenging symphonic repertoire. This evening will feature, FWSO’s Principal Oboe Jennifer Corning Lucio, Associate Principal Viola Anna Kolotylina, and Associate Principal Cello Keira Fullerton. It’s a chance to cheer on the hometown team and experience the magic of live music at its finest!

Program:

VERDI: Overture to La forza del destino

MARTINU: Rhapsody-Concerto for Viola and Orchestra

PUCCINI: Intermezzo from Act III of Manon Lescaut

MARCELLO: Concerto in D minor for Oboe and String Orchestra

SAINT-SAËNS (Arr. ANDREA CLEARFIELD): Danse bacchanale from Samson et Delilah

CAPUIS: Tre Momenti for violoncello and string orchestra

BORODIN: Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor

Under the baton of esteemed conductor David Robertson, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra embarks on a journey through vibrant soundscapes, beginning with Sarah Kirkland Snider’s Something for the Dark. This evocative work explores themes of resilience and renewal, unfolding in lush harmonies and shifting textures that provide a contemplative prelude to the evening’s dynamic energy.

The spotlight then turns to Sheku Kanneh-Mason, making his highly anticipated Ravinia debut with Saint-Saëns’s Cello Concerto No. 1. Renowned for its seamless structure and virtuosic demands, this concerto bursts to life with what The New York Times describes as “a dashing spirit in [its] headlong sprint.” Kanneh-Mason’s expressive artistry illuminates the piece’s fiery passion and lyricism, from its bold opening to its delicate, song-like passages, culminating in a dazzling finale.

The program continues with Chabrier’s España, a lively tribute to Spanish folk traditions, brimming with the vibrant energy of the jota and malagueña dances. The concert reaches its dazzling conclusion with Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol, a whirlwind of orchestral color that captures the essence of Spain through the bright morning serenade of an aubade and the fiery exuberance of a fandango.

Regarded as “the definition of virtuosity” (Observer UK), pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii makes his anticipated Chicago Symphony Orchestra debut with Rachmaninoff’s iconic Piano Concerto No. 2. Known for its sweeping melodies and emotional depth, this concerto has become a staple of the classical piano repertoire, influencing countless films and songs with its evocative themes. Tsujii’s extraordinary technique and expressive artistry bring a fresh and breathtaking interpretation to this beloved work.

Conductor Peter Oundjian also leads the CSO in a newly crafted suite based on renowned American composer Joan Tower’s Concerto for Orchestra, a dynamic showcase of orchestral virtuosity designed to highlight the individual brilliance of musicians while celebrating the collective power of the ensemble. Premiered in 1991 by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, the work exemplifies Tower’s signature style—rhythmically propulsive, harmonically rich, and boldly expressive.

The concert ends with Brahms’s First Symphony, which combines intellectual depth with emotional power. The work has long been celebrated for its rich orchestration, memorable melodies, and the soaring energy that builds to its triumphant conclusion.

The “blazing star power” (WTTW News) of Cynthia Erivo—a Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning actress, singer, and producer—lights up the Ravinia stage for an unforgettable evening of music! Fresh off a triumphant year as Elphaba in Wicked: Part One, Erivo brings her breathtaking vocals, unmatched artistry, and electrifying stage presence to Ravinia, returning after her star turn in the 2021 Ravinia Gala.

Erivo burst onto West End and Broadway stages in The Color Purple and has since taken the world by storm. Erivo most recently starred as Elphaba opposite Ariana Grande’s Glinda in Universal’s record-breaking film adaptation of the hit musical Wicked from director Jon M. Chu, which opened at number one and has since become the highest-grossing movie ever at the domestic box office based on a Broadway musical. Erivo has received widespread critical acclaim and rave reviews for her performance as Elphaba, including Golden Globe, SAG, Critics’ Choice, NAACP, BAFTA, and Academy Award nominations.

In 2021, Erivo was nominated for an Emmy for her critically acclaimed portrayal of Aretha Franklin in National Geographic’s Emmy-winning global anthology series Genius: Aretha. In addition to her illustrious acting career, Erivo is a Grammy-nominated songwriter and performer, often headlining sold-out shows, symphonies, and music spaces, including the Kennedy Center Honors, the 2020 Academy Awards, the 2017 Governor’s Ball, and the 2017 Grammy Awards. Erivo released her debut album, Ch. 1 Vs. 1, in 2021.

Acclaimed jazz pianist, music director, and composer/arranger Mark G. Meadows is a man on a mission: to create a unifying sound that harmonizes different walks of life. Venues everywhere have sought him for his ability to combine the raw, spontaneous nature of jazz with the storytelling component of live theater. Meadows currently serves as Associate Music Director, conductor, and pianist for The Outsiders, winner of four Tony Awards, including Best Musical. In addition to being the music director for Cynthia Erivo, he has performed alongside such world-renowned artists as Renée Fleming, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Bobby McFerrin, Terence Blanchard, Kurt Elling, and Warren Wolf as well as headlined premier venues like Jazz at Lincoln Center, Blues Alley, and The Kennedy Center. Meadows uses his artistry to bring forth a positive message of love, joy, and hope to his audiences.

• Live-streamed

ISIDORA ZEBELJAN:The Horses of Saint Mark

FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN:Symphony No. 96, “Miracle”

DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH:Symphony No. 9

Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts

702 S 5th St

Brainerd, MN 56401

A family-friendly concert featuring Camille Saint-Saëns’s beloved Carnival of the Animals invites young listeners and their families into the vibrant world of chamber music, with interactive activities and games that create an engaging, playful environment. Music fans of all ages will enjoy an inspiring, accessible experience that bridges generations and sparks a lifelong love for music. Narrated in both English and Spanish by Armstrong Community Music School’s Monica Salas. Featured performers include Coltman Competition grand prize winners Kodak Quartet, acclaimed pianists Michelle Schumann and Sohee Kwon, and musicians from the Butler School of Music and the Austin Symphony.

A family-friendly concert featuring Camille Saint-Saëns’s beloved Carnival of the Animals invites young listeners and their families into the vibrant world of chamber music, with interactive activities and games that create an engaging, playful environment. Music fans of all ages will enjoy an inspiring, accessible experience that bridges generations and sparks a lifelong love for music. Narrated in both English and Spanish by Armstrong Community Music School’s Monica Salas. Featured performers include Coltman Competition grand prize winners Kodak Quartet, acclaimed pianists Michelle Schumann and Sohee Kwon, and musicians from the Butler School of Music and the Austin Symphony.

Every Note Belongs is a sensory-friendly classical music concert presented in partnership with the Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas and The Dallas Opera Orchestra. Conducted by Shira Samuels-Shragg, this intimate performance will feature pianist Mikhail Berestnev, soprano Ashley Townsley, and tenor Christopher A. Leach, accompanied by musicians from The Dallas Opera Orchestra.

All ages are invited to join us in celebrating the power of music in a welcoming, inclusive setting where every note—and every individual—belongs. Created especially for individuals with Down syndrome and their families, this unique concert experience includes dimmed lighting, moderated sound levels, and calming areas to accommodate sensory sensitivities.

Even in death, love endures. Giselle is one of the most iconic ballets of all time. A tale of love, betrayal, and redemption told through delicate yet demanding choreography. This performance features intricate pointe work and sweeping, ghost-like movements that evoke an otherworldly sense of beauty.

Be among the first to witness this mesmerizing masterpiece, reimagined by Artistic Director Tim O’Keefe in its global debut. With its haunting atmosphere and dramatic storytelling, this emotionally charged performance makes Giselle an unforgettable experience that lingers long after the final curtain falls.

In Dallas, all performances of Giselle will feature live orchestration from The Dallas Opera Orchestra, conducted by Michael Moricz. This was made possible thanks to funding from the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Our production of Giselle is approximately two hours long, including one 20-minute intermission. Giselle contains themes of self-harm, suicide, mental illness, and infidelity. Viewer discretion is advised.

Even in death, love endures. Giselle is one of the most iconic ballets of all time. A tale of love, betrayal, and redemption told through delicate yet demanding choreography. This performance features intricate pointe work and sweeping, ghost-like movements that evoke an otherworldly sense of beauty.

Be among the first to witness this mesmerizing masterpiece, reimagined by Artistic Director Tim O’Keefe in its global debut. With its haunting atmosphere and dramatic storytelling, this emotionally charged performance makes Giselle an unforgettable experience that lingers long after the final curtain falls.

In Dallas, all performances of Giselle will feature live orchestration from The Dallas Opera Orchestra, conducted by Michael Moricz. This was made possible thanks to funding from the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Our production of Giselle is approximately two hours long, including one 20-minute intermission. Giselle contains themes of self-harm, suicide, mental illness, and infidelity. Viewer discretion is advised.

Even in death, love endures. Giselle is one of the most iconic ballets of all time. A tale of love, betrayal, and redemption told through delicate yet demanding choreography. This performance features intricate pointe work and sweeping, ghost-like movements that evoke an otherworldly sense of beauty.

Be among the first to witness this mesmerizing masterpiece, reimagined by Artistic Director Tim O’Keefe in its global debut. With its haunting atmosphere and dramatic storytelling, this emotionally charged performance makes Giselle an unforgettable experience that lingers long after the final curtain falls.

In Dallas, all performances of Giselle will feature live orchestration from The Dallas Opera Orchestra, conducted by Michael Moricz. This was made possible thanks to funding from the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Our production of Giselle is approximately two hours long, including one 20-minute intermission. Giselle contains themes of self-harm, suicide, mental illness, and infidelity. Viewer discretion is advised.

Even in death, love endures. Giselle is one of the most iconic ballets of all time. A tale of love, betrayal, and redemption told through delicate yet demanding choreography. This performance features intricate pointe work and sweeping, ghost-like movements that evoke an otherworldly sense of beauty.

Be among the first to witness this mesmerizing masterpiece, reimagined by Artistic Director Tim O’Keefe in its global debut. With its haunting atmosphere and dramatic storytelling, this emotionally charged performance makes Giselle an unforgettable experience that lingers long after the final curtain falls.

In Dallas, all performances of Giselle will feature live orchestration from The Dallas Opera Orchestra, conducted by Michael Moricz. This was made possible thanks to funding from the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Our production of Giselle is approximately two hours long, including one 20-minute intermission. Giselle contains themes of self-harm, suicide, mental illness, and infidelity. Viewer discretion is advised.

Program:

Richard Strauss – Don Quixote for Sextet (arr. Varga)

​Louis Spohr – Septet in a minor, Op. 147

The Gateways Festival Orchestra returns to Carnegie Hall following a remarkable 2022 debut that featured pianist Jon Batiste performing an original world premiere. This extraordinary ensemble that comprises musicians from many of the nation’s top orchestras and conservatory faculties showcases the contributions of classical musicians of African descent, including composers and performers both past and present. Led by its highly versatile conductor Anthony Parnther, the orchestra presents a brand-new program in this matinee concert. Hear Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8, Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony, and selected songs and spirituals and featuring multi-Grammy Award–winning American mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges.

Tickets available online or at the door for $5.00.

Stabat Mater, Kim André Arnesen

In the final weeks before Easter we focus on the suffering of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as she witnessed his crucifixion. The Stabat Mater is an ancient Christian poem that considers the torment and faith displayed by Jesus’ mother. One of today’s most insightful and brilliant composers. Kim André Arnesen, sets this poem to music in a haunting and deeply moving way.

A superstitious composer, Mahler greatly feared the musical “curse of the ninth,” which claimed the lives of other great symphonists like Beethoven, Schubert and Bruckner. His own ninth, a work of epic melodies and proportions, was indeed his final symphonic offering, a four-movement work that many hear as Mahler’s farewell to life, a glorious work that sets the soul aflame. Be there when Music Director Robert Spano and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra explore this tour-de-force, which begins with an irregular rhythm that Bernstein suggested was Mahler’s failing symphonic heartbeat.

This concert is dedicated to Frank Tilley and Connie Beck

A superstitious composer, Mahler greatly feared the musical “curse of the ninth,” which claimed the lives of other great symphonists like Beethoven, Schubert and Bruckner. His own ninth, a work of epic melodies and proportions, was indeed his final symphonic offering, a four-movement work that many hear as Mahler’s farewell to life, a glorious work that sets the soul aflame. Be there when Music Director Robert Spano and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra explore this tour-de-force, which begins with an irregular rhythm that Bernstein suggested was Mahler’s failing symphonic heartbeat.

This concert is dedicated to Frank Tilley and Connie Beck

A superstitious composer, Mahler greatly feared the musical “curse of the ninth,” which claimed the lives of other great symphonists like Beethoven, Schubert and Bruckner. His own ninth, a work of epic melodies and proportions, was indeed his final symphonic offering, a four-movement work that many hear as Mahler’s farewell to life, a glorious work that sets the soul aflame. Be there when Music Director Robert Spano and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra explore this tour-de-force, which begins with an irregular rhythm that Bernstein suggested was Mahler’s failing symphonic heartbeat.

This concert is dedicated to Frank Tilley and Connie Beck

Program:

Vaughan Williams, Overture to The Wasps

Dvořák, Romance

Ravel, Tzigane

Holst, The Planets

Program:

Vaughan Williams, Overture to The Wasps

Dvořák, Romance

Ravel, Tzigane

Holst, The Planets

Program:

Vaughan Williams, Overture to The Wasps

Dvořák, Romance

Ravel, Tzigane

Holst, The Planets

Audience favorite Pépito is back! The lovely and faithful Manuelita is at the center of this smalltown love story, and despite being pursued by local suitors, she insists on keeping her marriage promise to Pépito, who is away at war. Manuelita’s resolve is tested as new discoveries come to light, but a happy ending ensues, with lots of fun and surprising plot twists and turns along the way. The Dallas Opera Orchestra is joined by a fabulous cast for this one-act, English-language opera packed with gorgeous singing and beautiful music.

Program:

Voyage (for flute and orchestra) by John Corigliano

Symphony No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 27 by Sergei Rachmaninoff

All University of Texas at Austin students are allowed one free ticket as long as they are available. Student tickets must be picked up at the Box Office with valid student I.D. Seating is unassigned.

If you are a patron with ADA needs, please email tickets@mail.music.utexas.edu and we will reserve ADA seating for you.