| Dvořák | Slavonic Dances Nos. 1-3 Serenade for Winds |
| Suk | Serenade for Strings |
| Dvořák | Slavonic Dances Nos. 6-8 |
Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances, like the Hungarian Dances of his mentor Brahms, were crafted to capture the spirit of eastern Europe for the benefit of a wide audience. We’ll enjoy these festive pieces alongside the composer’s picturesque Serenade for wind instruments – while keeping it in the family with the gorgeous, intimate Serenade for strings by Josef Suk, Dvořák’s son-in-law.
Ravel Le tombeau de Couperin Sonata for Violin and Cello
Beethoven “Triple” Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Piano
Chamber music and the full symphony orchestra meet in this evening’s unique program. Ravel’s Le tombeau de Couperin, a perennial favorite, highlights the colors of a chamber orchestra while paying patriotic tribute to the French musical tradition. His Sonata for violin and cello is a strikingly different work, experimental and virtuosic in character. The imposing Triple Concerto, composed by Beethoven for his patron and student, the Archduke Rudolph, is a marvelous essay for piano trio and orchestra, among Beethoven’s favorites of his own work.
| Saint-Saëns | Danse macabre |
| Liszt | Totentanz |
| Liszt | Fantasy on Hungarian Folk Songs |
| Tchaikovsky | Orchestral Suite No. 3 |
Franz Liszt’s Dance of Death and Saint-Saëns’ Danse macabre are Romantic-era thrillers connected to Gothic literary themes. Prepare to be spooked! Pianist József Balog performs Liszt’s relatively seldom-heard Fantasy on Hungarian Folk Songs – actually a captivating piano-orchestral arrangement of one of his famed Hungarian Rhapsodies. We know Tchaikovsky as one of the great symphonists, but he also composed several extended suites for symphony orchestra. The concert closes with the third of these, full of vibrant melody and charm.
| HK Gruber | Aerial |
| Bruckner | Symphony No. 5 |
The Fifth Symphony of the great Anton Bruckner is among his most intellectually rich works, and one that he never heard performed by an orchestra in his lifetime because he fell ill at the time of its premiere. It is celebrated for its thematic intricacy and for its brilliant conclusion. This piece is paired with a dazzling contemporary concerto, Aerial, by the Austrian composer HK Gruber – a sizzling tour de force for HSO Principal Trumpet Christopher Coletti.
| Mahler | Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection” |
“It struck me like lightning,” Mahler wrote of his “Resurrection” Symphony No. 2. Premiered in 1895, it remains one of his most enduring offerings. A choral symphony written for a very large orchestra and host of singers, the Second is an inspired exploration of life, death, and the hereafter, ideas which would go on to occupy much of Mahler’s later work. Join the HSO and the Huntsville Community Chorus for a stunning, transcendent, unforgettable season finale.
Winner of nine All-Ireland fiddling championships, with 80 albums and film scores to her credit, the amazing Eileen Ivers rings in the new year with a celebration of Irish influence in American music – from Appalachian melodies to railroad work songs and Southern-fried blues. Join Eileen and her ensemble for this one-of-a-kind, unforgettable festival evening: Fiddle on Fire!
For nearly 70 years, John Williams has provided the soundtracks for many of the world’s most beloved films; his music for Star Wars is rated by the American Film Institute as the greatest film score of all time. “Music is there for everybody,” says Williams, lauded for his ability to engage audiences through powerful themes. Enjoy gripping, evocative symphonic scores from many chapters and facets of Williams’ storied career, performed by the full orchestra in a special salute to America’s movie maestro.
“Sing us a song tonight!” The musicians of the HSO are joined by our friends from Jeans ‘n Classics to present An Innocent Man, an evening of hits by the legendary Billy Joel. Known for his candid lyricism and his mastery of styles ranging from doo-wop and rhythm and blues, Joel has sold more than 150 million albums around the world. We’re delighted to pay tribute to one of America’s leading tunesmiths: “The Piano Man.”
Joshua Burel, William Price, and Amir Zaheri, composers
Contemporary classical music thrives in all corners of the world, including our home state of Alabama. This introspective program of new music will showcase recent compositions by three noted Alabama composers. You know Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms – but what about the composers living right next door?
Maybe your neighbors include engineers, nurses, or teachers – but what if one of them is a composer, of all things? Today’s program focuses on exciting new works by living composers right here in Alabama: Joshua Burel from Huntsville, Birmingham’s William Price, and Amir Zaheri, who comes to us from Tuscaloosa. Join us in Roberts Recital Hall on the UAH campus for an afternoon of exciting new music and engaging discussion by these three fantastic composers from the University of Alabama system.