Across the Globe

Across the Globe

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Peter Bay, conductor
Long Center’s Dell Hall

Renowned violinist Stefan Jackiw joins the Austin Symphony Orchestra for an exhilarating opening night. The evening begins with Gabriela Ortiz’s evocative Kauyumari, a tribute to the sacred blue deer of the Huichol people. Jackiw then brings his signature virtuosity to Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2, a work brimming with lyricism and rhythmic vitality. The program culminates in the grandeur of Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3, the Organ Symphony, where the majestic organ fills the hall with breathtaking power.

Concert Sponsor: Baker Botts L.L.P.

PROGRAM:
GABRIELA ORTIZ:
Kauyumari        
SERGEI PROKOFIEV: Violin Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 63
CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS: Symphony No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 78, Organ

Get your tickets HERE..

Across the Globe

Across the Globe

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Peter Bay, conductor
Long Center’s Dell Hall

Renowned violinist Stefan Jackiw joins the Austin Symphony Orchestra for an exhilarating opening night. The evening begins with Gabriela Ortiz’s evocative Kauyumari, a tribute to the sacred blue deer of the Huichol people. Jackiw then brings his signature virtuosity to Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2, a work brimming with lyricism and rhythmic vitality. The program culminates in the grandeur of Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3, the Organ Symphony, where the majestic organ fills the hall with breathtaking power.

Concert Sponsor: Baker Botts L.L.P.

PROGRAM:
GABRIELA ORTIZ:
Kauyumari        
SERGEI PROKOFIEV: Violin Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 63
CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS: Symphony No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 78, Organ

Get your tickets HERE.

Music Reimagined - Memory, Music and Light

Music Reimagined - Memory, Music and Light

3:00pm
Pre-concert talk 2:00pm

Arizona Philharmonic
Peter Bay, conductor

Maestro Peter Bay returns to conduct Arizona Philharmonic’s string orchestra in a program that reimagines memory, motion, and light. From W. A. Mozart’s Eine kleine Nachtmusik to Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings and Béla Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances, each piece transforms tradition into something fresh and alive. Javier Álvarez’s Metro Chabacano captures the rhythms of a Mexico City subway station with vibrant pulse. Augusta Read Thomas’s luminous Of Paradise and Light draws inspiration from poetry, offering a radiant reflection. Benjamin Britten’s Simple Symphony, crafted from childhood melodies, brims with playful charm. This concert celebrates how composers reshape familiar forms—whether classical, folk, or personal—into music that speaks to the present.

Barber and Thomas offer two deeply American reflections—one mournful, one luminous—as part of our season-long celebration of American composers.

PROGRAM:

JAVIER ÁLVAREZ Metro Chabacano (1991) 🇲🇽

SAMUEL BARBER Adagio for Strings (1936/1938) 🇺🇸

W. A. MOZART Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525 (1787) 🇩🇪

BÉLA BARTÓK Romanian Folk Dances (1915, arr. for strings) 🇭🇺

AUGUSTA READ THOMAS Of Paradise and Light (2010) 🇺🇸

BENJAMIN BRITTEN Simple Symphony, Op. 4 (1934) 🇬🇧

Program subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances.

Get your tickets HERE.

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Peter Bay, conductor
Long Center’s Dell Hall

In the climactic sixth episode of the Star Wars saga, Darth Vader readies the second Death Star to unleash the final blow to the Rebel Alliance. Luke Skywalker joins R2-D2, C-3PO, and Princess Leia to free Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt and launch a desperate attack upon the entire Imperial Fleet. Watch the complete film unfold as Peter Bay and your Austin Symphony Orchestra performs John Williams’ legendary score live to picture.

Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts in association with 20th Century Fox, Lucasfilm and Warner/Chappell Music. © All rights reserved. ©2023 & TM LUCASFILM LTD. All Rights Reserved © Disney

Title Sponsor: The Sarah & Ernest Butler Pops Series

Get your tickets HERE.

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Peter Bay, conductor
Long Center’s Dell Hall

In the climactic sixth episode of the Star Wars saga, Darth Vader readies the second Death Star to unleash the final blow to the Rebel Alliance. Luke Skywalker joins R2-D2, C-3PO, and Princess Leia to free Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt and launch a desperate attack upon the entire Imperial Fleet. Watch the complete film unfold as Peter Bay and your Austin Symphony Orchestra performs John Williams’ legendary score live to picture.

Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts in association with 20th Century Fox, Lucasfilm and Warner/Chappell Music. © All rights reserved. ©2023 & TM LUCASFILM LTD. All Rights Reserved © Disney

Title Sponsor: The Sarah & Ernest Butler Pops Series

Get your tickets HERE.

Emanuel Ax Performs Beethoven

Emanuel Ax Performs Beethoven

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Peter Bay, conductor
Long Center’s Dell Hall

Celebrate a night of brilliance with legendary pianist Emanuel Ax as he performs Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3, a masterpiece that blends drama, elegance, and virtuosity. The concert opens with Valerie Coleman’s Seven O’Clock Shout, a vibrant tribute to frontline workers. The evening concludes with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 3, the Polish, a rarely performed gem brimming with sweeping melodies and infectious dance rhythms.

PROGRAM:
VALERIE COLEMAN: Seven O’Clock Shout
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 3 in D Major, Op. 29, Polish

Get your tickets HERE.

Emanuel Ax Performs Beethoven

Emanuel Ax Performs Beethoven

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Peter Bay, conductor
Long Center’s Dell Hall

Celebrate a night of brilliance with legendary pianist Emanuel Ax as he performs Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3, a masterpiece that blends drama, elegance, and virtuosity. The concert opens with Valerie Coleman’s Seven O’Clock Shout, a vibrant tribute to frontline workers. The evening concludes with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 3, the Polish, a rarely performed gem brimming with sweeping melodies and infectious dance rhythms.

PROGRAM:
VALERIE COLEMAN: Seven O’Clock Shout
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 3 in D Major, Op. 29, Polish

Get your tickets HERE.

Beethoven's 5th

Beethoven's 5th

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Peter Bay, conductor
Long Center’s Dell Hall

Experience the power and passion of Beethoven’s iconic Fifth Symphony with your Austin Symphony Orchestra. From its unmistakable opening motif to its triumphant finale, this masterpiece embodies resilience and revolution, cementing its place as one of the most celebrated works in classical music. The program also explores rhapsodic brilliance, beginning with Franz Liszt's fiery Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, followed by Debussy’s Première rapsodie, a dazzling showcase for clarinetist Stephen Girko. Pianist Alex Maynegre-Torra then brings to life Gershwin’s electrifying Second Rhapsody. The evening also features Enescu’s vibrant Romanian Rhapsody No. 1, making for a night of unforgettable musical storytelling.

Concert Sponsor: Christopher H. Cheever

PROGRAM:
FRANZ LISZT: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in D Minor, S. 359, No. 4
CLAUDE DEBUSSY: Première rapsodie for Clarinet and Orchestra
GEORGE ENESCU: Romanian Rhapsody No. 1 in A Major, Op. 11
GEORGE GERSHWIN: Second Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67

Get your tickets HERE.

Beethoven's 5th

Beethoven's 5th

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Peter Bay, conductor
Long Center’s Dell Hall

Experience the power and passion of Beethoven’s iconic Fifth Symphony with your Austin Symphony Orchestra. From its unmistakable opening motif to its triumphant finale, this masterpiece embodies resilience and revolution, cementing its place as one of the most celebrated works in classical music. The program also explores rhapsodic brilliance, beginning with Franz Liszt's fiery Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, followed by Debussy’s Première rapsodie, a dazzling showcase for clarinetist Stephen Girko. Pianist Alex Maynegre-Torra then brings to life Gershwin’s electrifying Second Rhapsody. The evening also features Enescu’s vibrant Romanian Rhapsody No. 1, making for a night of unforgettable musical storytelling.

Concert Sponsor: Christopher H. Cheever

PROGRAM:
FRANZ LISZT: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in D Minor, S. 359, No. 4
CLAUDE DEBUSSY: Première rapsodie for Clarinet and Orchestra
GEORGE ENESCU: Romanian Rhapsody No. 1 in A Major, Op. 11
GEORGE GERSHWIN: Second Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67

Get your tickets HERE.

Home Alone in Concert

Home Alone in Concert

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Peter Bay, conductor
Long Center’s Dell Hall

Back by popular demand, this true holiday favorite and beloved comedy classic features renowned composer John Williams' charming and delightful score, performed live to picture by your Austin Symphony Orchestra.  Macaulay Culkin stars as Kevin McCallister, an 8-year-old boy who's accidentally left behind when his family leaves for Christmas vacation, and who must defend his home against two bungling thieves.  Hilarious and heart-warming, Home Alone is holiday fun for the entire family!

© 1990 Twentieth Century Fox

Title Sponsor: The Sarah & Ernest Butler Pops Series

Get your tickets HERE.

Home Alone in Concert

Home Alone in Concert

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Peter Bay, conductor
Long Center’s Dell Hall

Back by popular demand, this true holiday favorite and beloved comedy classic features renowned composer John Williams' charming and delightful score, performed live to picture by your Austin Symphony Orchestra.  Macaulay Culkin stars as Kevin McCallister, an 8-year-old boy who's accidentally left behind when his family leaves for Christmas vacation, and who must defend his home against two bungling thieves.  Hilarious and heart-warming, Home Alone is holiday fun for the entire family!

© 1990 Twentieth Century Fox

Title Sponsor: The Sarah & Ernest Butler Pops Series

Get your tickets HERE.

Planets and Pasos

Planets and Pasos

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Peter Bay, conductor
Long Center’s Dell Hall

Embark on a Celestial Journey: Holst’s The Planets

Prepare to be transported beyond the bounds of Earth in an evening anchored by Gustav Holst’s cosmic masterpiece, The Planets. This iconic suite, with its sweeping grandeur and vivid musical imagery, offers a breathtaking tour of the solar system—each movement capturing the astrological character of its namesake planet. From the warlike intensity of “Mars” to the serene beauty of “Venus” and the mystical expanses of “Neptune,” Holst’s visionary score will leave you awe-struck.

Complementing this celestial centerpiece is a genre-defying set by Miguel Espinoza Fusion, whose dynamic Camino Desconocido merges flamenco fire, jazz sophistication, and world music flair into a captivating soundscape. Their original works push musical boundaries, creating a vibrant contrast that echoes the adventurous spirit of Holst.

The evening opens with Aaron Copland’s spirited Danzón Cubano—a festive, rhythm-driven tribute to Cuban dance that sets a joyful and infectious tone from the very first note.

Experience an unforgettable fusion of the terrestrial and the celestial—an exploration of rhythm, culture, and the stars.

Concert Sponsors: 
Marvin J. Brittman & Ronald C. Jernigan

PROGRAM:
AARON COPLAND:
Danzón Cubano

MIGUEL ESPINOZA: Nagi Yate; Veneta                

GUSTAV HOLTS: The Planets, Op. 32

Get your tickets HERE.

Planets and Pasos

Planets and Pasos

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Peter Bay, conductor
Long Center’s Dell Hall

Embark on a Celestial Journey: Holst’s The Planets

Prepare to be transported beyond the bounds of Earth in an evening anchored by Gustav Holst’s cosmic masterpiece, The Planets. This iconic suite, with its sweeping grandeur and vivid musical imagery, offers a breathtaking tour of the solar system—each movement capturing the astrological character of its namesake planet. From the warlike intensity of “Mars” to the serene beauty of “Venus” and the mystical expanses of “Neptune,” Holst’s visionary score will leave you awe-struck.

Complementing this celestial centerpiece is a genre-defying set by Miguel Espinoza Fusion, whose dynamic Camino Desconocido merges flamenco fire, jazz sophistication, and world music flair into a captivating soundscape. Their original works push musical boundaries, creating a vibrant contrast that echoes the adventurous spirit of Holst.

The evening opens with Aaron Copland’s spirited Danzón Cubano—a festive, rhythm-driven tribute to Cuban dance that sets a joyful and infectious tone from the very first note.

Experience an unforgettable fusion of the terrestrial and the celestial—an exploration of rhythm, culture, and the stars.

Concert Sponsors: 
Marvin J. Brittman & Ronald C. Jernigan

PROGRAM:
AARON COPLAND:
Danzón Cubano

MIGUEL ESPINOZA: Nagi Yate; Veneta                

GUSTAV HOLTS: The Planets, Op. 32

Get your tickets HERE.

Myth & Melody

Myth & Melody

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Peter Bay, conductor
Long Center’s Dell Hall

Join cellist Annie Jacobs-Perkins for an evening of rich storytelling and dynamic energy. The concert opens with Mendelssohn’s whimsical A Midsummer Night’s Dream overture, followed by Bloch’s deeply expressive Schelomo, a Hebraic rhapsody for cello and orchestra. The lively Polka and Fugue from Weinberger’s Schwanda, the Bagpiper leads to a vibrant finale with Bernstein’s beloved Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.

Concert Sponsors: Marvin J. Brittman & Ronald C. Jernigan | Sheri Clark Henriksen

PROGRAM:
FELIX MENDELSSOHN:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Incidental Music, Op. 61

ERNEST BLOCH: Schelomo (Hebraic Rhapsody)

JAROMÍR WEINBERGER: Schwanda, the Bagpiper: Polka and Fugue

LEONARD BERNSTEIN: West Side Story: Symphonic Dances

Get your tickets HERE.

Myth & Melody

Myth & Melody

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Peter Bay, conductor
Long Center’s Dell Hall

Join cellist Annie Jacobs-Perkins for an evening of rich storytelling and dynamic energy. The concert opens with Mendelssohn’s whimsical A Midsummer Night’s Dream overture, followed by Bloch’s deeply expressive Schelomo, a Hebraic rhapsody for cello and orchestra. The lively Polka and Fugue from Weinberger’s Schwanda, the Bagpiper leads to a vibrant finale with Bernstein’s beloved Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.

Concert Sponsors: Marvin J. Brittman & Ronald C. Jernigan | Sheri Clark Henriksen

PROGRAM:
FELIX MENDELSSOHN:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Incidental Music, Op. 61

ERNEST BLOCH: Schelomo (Hebraic Rhapsody)

JAROMÍR WEINBERGER: Schwanda, the Bagpiper: Polka and Fugue

LEONARD BERNSTEIN: West Side Story: Symphonic Dances

Get your tickets HERE.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in Concert

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in Concert

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Peter Bay, conductor
Long Center’s Dell Hall

Come along for a swashbuckling adventure with Captain Jack Sparrow, his motley crew, and your Austin Symphony Orchestra. Starring Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Keira Knightley, the action-packed movie sets mystery, intrigue, swords, and treasure to a live performance of Klaus Badelt’s thrilling musical score based on themes of Hans Zimmer.

Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts.® All rights reserved.

Title Sponsor: The Sarah & Ernest Butler Pops Series

Get your tickets HERE.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in Concert

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in Concert

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Peter Bay, conductor
Long Center’s Dell Hall

Come along for a swashbuckling adventure with Captain Jack Sparrow, his motley crew, and your Austin Symphony Orchestra. Starring Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Keira Knightley, the action-packed movie sets mystery, intrigue, swords, and treasure to a live performance of Klaus Badelt’s thrilling musical score based on themes of Hans Zimmer.

Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts.® All rights reserved.

Title Sponsor: The Sarah & Ernest Butler Pops Series

Get your tickets HERE.

Mind Warp

Mind Warp

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Peter Bay, conductor
Long Center’s Dell Hall

Get ready for an evening where cinematic drama and symphonic grandeur collide. The night opens with Bernard Herrmann’s suspenseful Psycho: A Short Suite, arranged by Palmer. Violinist Nancy Zhou then takes center stage for Korngold’s lush and romantic Violin Concerto. The evening concludes with Strauss’ awe-inspiring tone poem Also sprach Zarathustra, famously immortalized in 2001: A Space Odyssey.

PROGRAM:
BERNARD HERRMANN/Palmer:
Psycho: A Short Suite
ERICH WOLGANG KORNGOLD: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35
RICHARD STRAUSS: Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30

Get your tickets HERE.

Mind Warp

Mind Warp

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Peter Bay, conductor
Long Center’s Dell Hall

Get ready for an evening where cinematic drama and symphonic grandeur collide. The night opens with Bernard Herrmann’s suspenseful Psycho: A Short Suite, arranged by Palmer. Violinist Nancy Zhou then takes center stage for Korngold’s lush and romantic Violin Concerto. The evening concludes with Strauss’ awe-inspiring tone poem Also sprach Zarathustra, famously immortalized in 2001: A Space Odyssey.

PROGRAM:
BERNARD HERRMANN/Palmer:
Psycho: A Short Suite
ERICH WOLGANG KORNGOLD: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35
RICHARD STRAUSS: Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30

Get your tickets HERE.

Marie Antoinette: Vampire Queen of Versailles Ballet

Marie Antoinette: Vampire Queen of Versailles Ballet

Marie Antoinette:
Vampire Queen of Versailles

In this mysteriously seductive reimagining of Marie Antoinette’s story, Stephen Mills transforms the infamous queen into a creature of the night, wielding power through allure, ambition, and an insatiable thirst. Drawing inspiration from the pages of history, this full-length, world premiere production blends high drama with supernatural intrigue. With hauntingly elegant choreography and a visually opulent design, Marie Antoinette: Vampire Queen of Versailles unveils a world where desire is deadly, betrayal is inevitable, and even the most powerful must ultimately face the blade.

Commissioned by The Butler New Choreography Endowment

Get your tickets HERE.

Marie Antoinette: Vampire Queen of Versailles Ballet

Marie Antoinette: Vampire Queen of Versailles Ballet

Marie Antoinette:
Vampire Queen of Versailles

In this mysteriously seductive reimagining of Marie Antoinette’s story, Stephen Mills transforms the infamous queen into a creature of the night, wielding power through allure, ambition, and an insatiable thirst. Drawing inspiration from the pages of history, this full-length, world premiere production blends high drama with supernatural intrigue. With hauntingly elegant choreography and a visually opulent design, Marie Antoinette: Vampire Queen of Versailles unveils a world where desire is deadly, betrayal is inevitable, and even the most powerful must ultimately face the blade.

Commissioned by The Butler New Choreography Endowment

Get your tickets HERE.

Marie Antoinette: Vampire Queen of Versailles Ballet

Marie Antoinette: Vampire Queen of Versailles Ballet

Marie Antoinette:
Vampire Queen of Versailles

In this mysteriously seductive reimagining of Marie Antoinette’s story, Stephen Mills transforms the infamous queen into a creature of the night, wielding power through allure, ambition, and an insatiable thirst. Drawing inspiration from the pages of history, this full-length, world premiere production blends high drama with supernatural intrigue. With hauntingly elegant choreography and a visually opulent design, Marie Antoinette: Vampire Queen of Versailles unveils a world where desire is deadly, betrayal is inevitable, and even the most powerful must ultimately face the blade.

Commissioned by The Butler New Choreography Endowment

Get your tickets HERE.

Rodrigo and The Requiem

Rodrigo and The Requiem

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Peter Bay, conductor
Long Center’s Dell Hall

Journey from mythic magic to Spanish romance and ultimate transcendence in this unforgettable evening of music.

The night culminates in the awe-inspiring power of Mozart’s Requiem, brought vividly to life in by your ASO along with the voices of Chorus Austin. This timeless masterpiece of beauty, drama, and spiritual depth—Mozart’s final work—promises to stir the soul and leave audiences breathless. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience its full emotional force and choral grandeur.

Leading into this monumental conclusion, world-renowned guitarist Grisha Goryachev performs Rodrigo’s passionate Concierto de Aranjuez, a beloved work rich with Spanish color and poetic elegance. The evening begins with Dan Perttu’s Nimue and Her Fairies, a luminous orchestral fantasy inspired by Arthurian legend.

Three distinct musical realms—myth, romance, and requiem—intertwine in a concert experience that will uplift, move, and inspire.

Concert Sponsors: Araminta & Tom Sellers

PROGRAM:
Grisha Goryachev, guitar 
Chorus Austin (Ryan Heller, Artistic Director)

DANIEL PERTTU: Nimue and Her Fairies, Op. 39b (premiere of full orchestration)
JOAQUÍN RODRIGO: Concierto de Aranjuez
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Requiem, K. 636.

Get your tickets HERE.

Rodrigo and The Requiem

Rodrigo and The Requiem

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Peter Bay, conductor
Long Center’s Dell Hall

Journey from mythic magic to Spanish romance and ultimate transcendence in this unforgettable evening of music.

The night culminates in the awe-inspiring power of Mozart’s Requiem, brought vividly to life in by your ASO along with the voices of Chorus Austin. This timeless masterpiece of beauty, drama, and spiritual depth—Mozart’s final work—promises to stir the soul and leave audiences breathless. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience its full emotional force and choral grandeur.

Leading into this monumental conclusion, world-renowned guitarist Grisha Goryachev performs Rodrigo’s passionate Concierto de Aranjuez, a beloved work rich with Spanish color and poetic elegance. The evening begins with Dan Perttu’s Nimue and Her Fairies, a luminous orchestral fantasy inspired by Arthurian legend.

Three distinct musical realms—myth, romance, and requiem—intertwine in a concert experience that will uplift, move, and inspire.

Concert Sponsors: Araminta & Tom Sellers

PROGRAM:
Grisha Goryachev, guitar 
Chorus Austin (Ryan Heller, Artistic Director)

DANIEL PERTTU: Nimue and Her Fairies, Op. 39b (premiere of full orchestration)
JOAQUÍN RODRIGO: Concierto de Aranjuez
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Requiem, K. 636.

Get your tickets HERE.

Cast of Characters - Humor, Protest and Passion

Cast of Characters - Humor, Protest and Passion

3:00pm
Pre-concert talk 2:00pm

Arizona Philharmonic
Peter Bay, conductor
Laura Arganbright, oboe

Maestro Peter Bay leads the final concert of our season with a cast of musical characters—each piece offering a distinct role, from playful and lyrical to quietly defiant and boldly inventive. Thurber’s Dogs opens the program with musical portraits drawn from James Thurber’s cartoon sketches—short, colorful pieces that capture the quirks and charm of a parade of imaginary dogs, composed by Peter Schickele, best known for his satirical alter ego, P.D.Q. Bach. Oboe Concerto by Marie Clémence de Grandval, written in 1877, introduces a more elegant voice: poised, expressive, and understated, with our principal oboist Laura Arganbright giving the solo line clarity and warmth from start to finish. In contrast, Farewell to Stromness by Peter Maxwell Davies speaks in a quiet, unwavering tone—its gentle melody shaped like a walk through a threatened landscape, a peaceful yet pointed protest against environmental destruction. The program ends with Symphony No. 1 by Ludwig van Beethoven, a bold and youthful entry into the symphonic tradition—playful in its turns, grounded in Classical form, and already brimming with the personality of a composer stepping into view.

Schickele is the final American composer featured in our season celebrating American voices in recognition of America’s 250th year.

PROGRAM:

PETER SCHICKELE Thurber’s Dogs (1994) 🇺🇸

MARIE CLÉMENCE DE GRANDVAL Oboe Concerto in D Minor, Op. 7 (1877) 🇫🇷

PETER MAXWELL DAVIES Farewell to Stromness (1980) 🇬🇧

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21 (1800) 🇩🇪

Program subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances.

Get your tickets HERE.

Rhapsody in Blue

Rhapsody in Blue

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Peter Bay, conductor
Long Center’s Dell Hall

JExperience Rhapsody in Blue like never before! In a groundbreaking performance, the Austin Symphony Orchestra will bring George Gershwin himself to the stage—through the power of Steinway & Sons' Spirio | r technology. This state-of-the-art piano system will perform Gershwin’s own recorded keystrokes in perfect synchronization with the orchestra, allowing audiences to hear Rhapsody in Blue as Gershwin originally played it.

This extraordinary evening, sponsored by the Bancroft Initiative, also features American Ballads by Morton Gould, Ives’ Symphony No. 1, and Copland’s Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes, all enhanced by Westwater Arts’ stunning multimedia visuals.

Don’t miss this fusion of history and innovation—where Gershwin’s own touch meets the brilliance of your Austin Symphony Orchestra!

PROGRAM:
Westwater Arts, symphonic photochoreography
“George Gershwin” (Steinway Spirio piano)

MORTON GOULD: Selection from American Ballads                
GEORGE GERSHWIN/Grofé: Rhapsody in Blue

National Park Suite:
CHARLES IVES:
Symphony No. 1 in D Minor, S. 1
Rodeo!:
AARON COPLAND: Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes

Get your tickets HERE.

Rhapsody in Blue

Rhapsody in Blue

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Peter Bay, conductor
Long Center’s Dell Hall

JExperience Rhapsody in Blue like never before! In a groundbreaking performance, the Austin Symphony Orchestra will bring George Gershwin himself to the stage—through the power of Steinway & Sons' Spirio | r technology. This state-of-the-art piano system will perform Gershwin’s own recorded keystrokes in perfect synchronization with the orchestra, allowing audiences to hear Rhapsody in Blue as Gershwin originally played it.

This extraordinary evening, sponsored by the Bancroft Initiative, also features American Ballads by Morton Gould, Ives’ Symphony No. 1, and Copland’s Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes, all enhanced by Westwater Arts’ stunning multimedia visuals.

Don’t miss this fusion of history and innovation—where Gershwin’s own touch meets the brilliance of your Austin Symphony Orchestra!

PROGRAM:
Westwater Arts, symphonic photochoreography
“George Gershwin” (Steinway Spirio piano)

MORTON GOULD: Selection from American Ballads                
GEORGE GERSHWIN/Grofé: Rhapsody in Blue

National Park Suite:
CHARLES IVES:
Symphony No. 1 in D Minor, S. 1
Rodeo!:
AARON COPLAND: Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes

Get your tickets HERE.