BACH
Concerto No. 2 in C major for Two Pianos and String Orchestra
PROKOFIEV arr. Conrad POPE
Concerto No. 6 for Two Pianos and Strings
(PSO Commission & World Premiere)
ORFF
Carmina burana
BACH
Concerto No. 2 in C major for Two Pianos and String Orchestra
PROKOFIEV arr. Conrad POPE
Concerto No. 6 for Two Pianos and Strings
(PSO Commission & World Premiere)
ORFF
Carmina burana
Christopher Theofanidis This dream, strange and moving (1995)
Han Lash Zero Turning Radius, Concerto for Orchestra (2024) *
Jeremy Gill Four Legends from the Silmarillion (2023)*
I. Ainulindalë
II. Narsilion
III. Tinúviel
IV. Eärendil
Gil Rose, conductor
*World Premiere
Celebrating the diversity, profundity, and versatility of the orchestra, composers Chris Theofanidis, Han Lash, and Jeremy Gill present virtuosic handlings of this enormous, instrumental assemblage, de- and re-constructing its history, sound, and power.
In a blossoming of metaphors, two compositions from Chris Theofanidis bring together disparate concepts into artistic collisions: “Rainbow Body was the coming together of two ideas — one, my fascination with Hildegard of Bingen’s music (especially her chant, “Ave Maria, O Auctix Vite”) and two, the Tibetan Buddhist idea of “Rainbow Body:” that when an enlightened being dies physically, his or her body is absorbed directly back into the universe as energy, as light.” And in what is technically only a preposition, As Dancing is to Architecture leaves in suspense what music might become in a sonically constructed space: inviting listeners into an exploration of motion, time, and acoustic presence.
Han Lash’s Zero Turning Radius began with a question (how can the orchestra continue to be relevant?); a challenge (“I must now do my utmost to remove a delimiting frame”); and a “prayer sent out to the future that the orchestra – such a beautiful, multi-limbed, amphibious creature – can be a playground in contexts and for musics that remain yet unimagined and can be created in any number of different ways.” This composition marks a threshold of ability for Lash’s compositional experience, a level at which the orchestra can now be wielded with both tremendous power and deftness. “Zero Turning Radius is about the joy of steering a powerful, enormous, and fleet entity like an orchestra: shifting and dancing, turning on a dime. The idea for the piece was inspired while using a zero turning radius mower.”
Jeremy Gill takes us behind The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, where there lies a quiet masterpiece, a mythological labyrinth of history, society, and power: The Silmarillion is J.R.R. Tolkien’s posthumously published history of Middle-earth – that of the world in which the now more famous sagas take their course. After years of encouragement from a childhood friend, Gill has finally taken up the task of setting selected tales from The Silmarillion to music. Divided into four tone poems, the set presents “Ainulindalë” (Music of the Ainur), “Tolkien’s creation myth, in which the creation of our world is effected through music,” “Narsilion” (Song of the Sun and Moon), “Tinúviel” (the love saga of Beren and Lúthien), and “Eärendil” (the Mariner). Four Legends from the Silmarillion sojourns, in the vehicle of the symphonic tone poem, through a sprawling epic that spans from the unseen deeps of the ocean to “the uttermost rim of the world” – from the ultimate future to the “place among the stars… before the Earth was created.”
– from the words of Chris Theofanidis, Han Lash, and Jeremy Gill
TCHAIKOVSKY
Suite from Sleeping Beauty
Zhou TIAN
Flute Concerto
(PSO Co-Commission)
PROKOFIEV
Selections from Romeo and Juliet
Revisit the 2016 Academy Award® winning Lionsgate film LA LA LAND starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, written and directed by Damien Chazelle, in a swoon-worthy live concert experience.
La La Land showcases the captivating story of a promising pianist and aspiring actress who cross paths and fall in love, while attempting to harmonize their career journeys in the city of stars.
The show features a full symphony orchestra and jazz band performing the soundtrack, along with the movie. Experience the vivid musical moments central to the film, including the unbelievable piano solos, live!
Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s beloved story comes to life in this whimsical and heart-warming tale of an aviator who crashes in the desert and meets the little prince from another planet. His friends include a talking snake, a lamplighter, a fox and a singing rose in a story of magic, adventure, discovery and friendship. With a score by Oscar-winner Rachel Portman (Emma, Chocolat, Cider House Rules), this is a production for the entire family that includes circus artists, fantastical characters, lots of heart and fun. Opera North proudly celebrates Saint-Exupery’s 125th birthday with this production.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s beloved story comes to life in this whimsical and heart-warming tale of an aviator who crashes in the desert and meets the little prince from another planet. His friends include a talking snake, a lamplighter, a fox and a singing rose in a story of magic, adventure, discovery and friendship. With a score by Oscar-winner Rachel Portman (Emma, Chocolat, Cider House Rules), this is a production for the entire family that includes circus artists, fantastical characters, lots of heart and fun. Opera North proudly celebrates Saint-Exupery’s 125th birthday with this production.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s beloved story comes to life in this whimsical and heart-warming tale of an aviator who crashes in the desert and meets the little prince from another planet. His friends include a talking snake, a lamplighter, a fox and a singing rose in a story of magic, adventure, discovery and friendship. With a score by Oscar-winner Rachel Portman (Emma, Chocolat, Cider House Rules), this is a production for the entire family that includes circus artists, fantastical characters, lots of heart and fun. Opera North proudly celebrates Saint-Exupery’s 125th birthday with this production.
“Downton Abbey” meets “Upstairs Downstairs” in this new production set in the 1920s. Mozart and DaPonte’s comedy of manners based on Beaumarchais’ classic will delight you in this sparkling production. It is a game of cat and mouse as servants Susanna and Figaro outwit their philandering employer, Count Almaviva with the help of the Countess in teaching him a lesson on fidelity and love. Filled with some of Mozart’s most delightful music and vocal fireworks, this production will have you laughing at the foibles of love and relationships.
“Downton Abbey” meets “Upstairs Downstairs” in this new production set in the 1920s. Mozart and DaPonte’s comedy of manners based on Beaumarchais’ classic will delight you in this sparkling production. It is a game of cat and mouse as servants Susanna and Figaro outwit their philandering employer, Count Almaviva with the help of the Countess in teaching him a lesson on fidelity and love. Filled with some of Mozart’s most delightful music and vocal fireworks, this production will have you laughing at the foibles of love and relationships.
“Downton Abbey” meets “Upstairs Downstairs” in this new production set in the 1920s. Mozart and DaPonte’s comedy of manners based on Beaumarchais’ classic will delight you in this sparkling production. It is a game of cat and mouse as servants Susanna and Figaro outwit their philandering employer, Count Almaviva with the help of the Countess in teaching him a lesson on fidelity and love. Filled with some of Mozart’s most delightful music and vocal fireworks, this production will have you laughing at the foibles of love and relationships.
Mrs. Wilberforce joins our friends in the trio Dashing Rock for a celebration of the season!
The Los Angeles Times called Classical Mystery Tour “more than just an incredible simulation…the swelling strings and soaring French horn lines gave the live performance a high goose-bump quotient…the crowd stood and bellowed for more.”
Hear “Penny Lane” with a live trumpet section, experience the beauty of “Yesterday” with an acoustic guitar and string quartet, enjoy the classical/rock blend on “I Am the Walrus,” and relish the cascading orchestral crescendo on “A Day in the Life.” Classical Mystery Tour is the best of The Beatles – from early Beatles music on through the solo years – like you’ve never heard them before. Many have called it “the best show the Beatles never did!”
The Los Angeles Times called Classical Mystery Tour “more than just an incredible simulation…the swelling strings and soaring French horn lines gave the live performance a high goose-bump quotient…the crowd stood and bellowed for more.”
Hear “Penny Lane” with a live trumpet section, experience the beauty of “Yesterday” with an acoustic guitar and string quartet, enjoy the classical/rock blend on “I Am the Walrus,” and relish the cascading orchestral crescendo on “A Day in the Life.” Classical Mystery Tour is the best of The Beatles – from early Beatles music on through the solo years – like you’ve never heard them before. Many have called it “the best show the Beatles never did!”
Mrs. Wilberforce returns to Harvard’s Countway Library for some tunes and songs! (If you’re in the area, check out their other events, many of which include therapy animals! We only wish we were that cute.)
This year, SpeakEasy Stage Company will host the New England premiere of the recently reimagined revival of “A Man of No Importance,” a charming musical set in Dublin, Ireland about the redemptive power of theatre, love and friendship.
Join us at CitySpace to celebrate the premiere and Boston's Irish roots with an evening of folk music featuring performances from local fiddlers, Irish folk bands and actors from this new production. This celebration is the perfect way to gear up for Boston's favorite holiday: St. Patrick's Day! Guests will also enjoy complimentary snacks during the show.
FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH ORCHESTRA World Tour AWR Music Productions and Square Enix are proud to introduce FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH Orchestra World Tour, an electrifying new concert based entirely on the groundbreaking game from SQUARE ENIX. Experience all new symphonic arrangements of the music of FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH including beloved scores by Nobuo Uematsu and exciting new contributions from Mitsuto Suzuki and Masashi Hamauzu all performed by an orchestra and chorus of over 100 musicians led by renowned conductors Arnie Roth and Eric Roth. With stunning, high-definition video scenes created exclusively for this production by SQUARE ENIX, immerse yourself in the world of one of the most visionary games of all time with this sensational multimedia concert experience!
Gabriela ORTIZ
Kauyumari
BEETHOVEN
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major
STRAUSS
Also sprach Zarathustra
Wojciech Kilar – Orawa
Felix Mendelssohn – Concerto No. 1 for Piano and Orchestra
Intermission
Anna Clyne – Sound and Fury
Stephen Hough – Piano Concerto: The World of Yesterday (East Coast premiere)
The duo of Kyra Davies, fiddle, viola, vocals; and Sean Smith, guitar, bouzouki, tenor banjo, vocals; play music from Ireland, Scotland and Cape Breton – but also further afield, like Shetland, Brittany and Galicia, among other places, bringing out the distinctive qualities of each tune or song for the enjoyment of their audiences.
This program takes place in the Carriage House at Gore Place. Parking is free.
Cost: $21 General Admission, $19 Member, $16 Students (and ages 16 and under), $5 Card to Culture
Excited to play with Mrs. Wilberforce as part of the 2025 Boston Celtic Music Festival at The Rockwell in Davis Square! While you’re there, check out our other amazing colleagues who are also performing in this annual event that includes performances, sessions, and a ceilidh over several days and multiple venues in Cambridge and Somerville.
Celebrate the season with family and friends at our Holiday Pops concerts. You will be immersed in joyous music, laughter, and the spirit of the season. The festively-decorated auditorium and family-friendly atmosphere are just what everybody needs at this time of year. We have an amazing line-up of holiday entertainment with Yaniv, our musicians, and special guests, including The Showstoppers and the Southeastern Massachusetts Youth Orchestra. Both performances are about one hour long, with no intermission.
Celebrate the season with family and friends at our Holiday Pops concerts. You will be immersed in joyous music, laughter, and the spirit of the season. The festively-decorated auditorium and family-friendly atmosphere are just what everybody needs at this time of year. We have an amazing line-up of holiday entertainment with Yaniv, our musicians, and special guests, including The Showstoppers and the Southeastern Massachusetts Youth Orchestra. Both performances are about one hour long, with no intermission.
“Classical Meets Traditional – featuring a fusion of works from Mozart's Piano Concerto to vibrant Latin American Composers”
Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F
Astor Piazzolla: Oblivion (arr. Robert Longfield )
Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G
Astor Piazzolla: Aconcagua; Concerto for Bandoneon
Johann Sebastian Bach: Suite No. 2 in B minor
Experience favorites from Disney to Broadway like never before!
Voctave’s 11-member vocal ensemble has had over 150 million social media views and appeared on countless recordings. Their popular show “The Corner of Broadway & Main Street” spawned a chart-topping album and is sure to be an unforgettable evening of music for the whole family.
Experience favorites from Disney to Broadway like never before!
Voctave’s 11-member vocal ensemble has had over 150 million social media views and appeared on countless recordings. Their popular show “The Corner of Broadway & Main Street” spawned a chart-topping album and is sure to be an unforgettable evening of music for the whole family.
Open Reading and Recording of Graduate Composers Isaac Barzso, Nick Bentz, Inga Chinilina, Adeliia Faizullina, & Sofía Rocha
Rescheduled from August 6 due to weather! Mrs. Wilberforce will be playing trad tunes at the Harvard Science Center Plaza (at the corner of Oxford Street and Kirkland Street, near the food trucks and farmers’ market!)
Strauss, Richard – Also Sprach Zarathustra
Bates, Mason – Sea-Blue Circuitry
Rachmaninoff, Sergei – Piano Concerto No. 2
Former PSO Music Directors Bruce Hangen (1976-1986), Toshiyuki Shimada (1986-2006), and Robert Moody (2008-2018) join current Music Director Eckart Preu (2019-present) in a celebration of the passage of time, bridging the past to the present.
First performed 200 years ago, Beethoven’s 9th has stood the test of time as the composer’s final, and most exuberant symphony. Each Music Director will take to the podium to conduct one of the pieces movements—through the passing of the baton, each conductor will highlight their unique role in PSO history, anchored by the performance of PSO musicians.
Accompanying the program is Anna Clyne’s Quarter Days, a reflection on the passing of time—within a minute, a day, through the seasons and within a lifetime. Co-commissioned by the PSO, Quarter Days is a new work, featuring the principal string players of the PSO.
Former PSO Music Directors Bruce Hangen (1976-1986), Toshiyuki Shimada (1986-2006), and Robert Moody (2008-2018) join current Music Director Eckart Preu (2019-present) in a celebration of the passage of time, bridging the past to the present.
First performed 200 years ago, Beethoven’s 9th has stood the test of time as the composer’s final, and most exuberant symphony. Each Music Director will take to the podium to conduct one of the pieces movements—through the passing of the baton, each conductor will highlight their unique role in PSO history, anchored by the performance of PSO musicians.
Accompanying the program is Anna Clyne’s Quarter Days, a reflection on the passing of time—within a minute, a day, through the seasons and within a lifetime. Co-commissioned by the PSO, Quarter Days is a new work, featuring the principal string players of the PSO.
Former PSO Music Directors Bruce Hangen (1976-1986), Toshiyuki Shimada (1986-2006), and Robert Moody (2008-2018) join current Music Director Eckart Preu (2019-present) in a celebration of the passage of time, bridging the past to the present.
First performed 200 years ago, Beethoven’s 9th has stood the test of time as the composer’s final, and most exuberant symphony. Each Music Director will take to the podium to conduct one of the pieces movements—through the passing of the baton, each conductor will highlight their unique role in PSO history, anchored by the performance of PSO musicians.
Accompanying the program is Anna Clyne’s Quarter Days, a reflection on the passing of time—within a minute, a day, through the seasons and within a lifetime. Co-commissioned by the PSO, Quarter Days is a new work, featuring the principal string players of the PSO.
Symphonic Anime is a live performance that features the original soundtrack and songs from popular Anime series, performed by a leading orchestra and choir.
Some of the original composers of the songs have also been invited to attend the previous concerts. The list of invited composers includes Yoshihisa Hirano (Hunter x Hunter 2011), Kaoru Wada (Inuyasha), Taku Iwasaki (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann), Yasuharu Takanashi (Fairy Tail), Yuki Hayashi (My Hero Academia), and Makoto Miyazaki (One Punch Man, Spy x Family).
In September 2023, Symphonic Anime had three sold-out shows in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, featuring 120 musicians from the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra.
Tunes as part of Belmont Porchfest!
Mrs. Wilberforce plays outside on the Harvard Science Plaza!