Saturday, 7:30 pm

RSO launches its 54th season, by exploring a rich repertoire for classicalsized orchestras. Concertmaster,
Harvey Thurmer, and Associate Concertmaster, Josh Ulrich, play the graceful and moving Bach Concerto for Two Violins. Mozart’s Overture to Cosi fan tutte and Beethoven’s Joyous Symphony No. 8 are contrasted with a modern classic, Fratres (Brethren) by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt.

October 23, 2010

Saturday, 7:30 pm

A “Mini-Max” extravaganza features Façade by American Philip Glass and the work that made John Adams’ reputation, “The Chairman Dances,” from his much-talked-about opera, Nixon in China. These “minimalist” works share the stage with two lush Scandinavian classics: the lovely Piano Concerto of Norwegian Edvard Grieg, with pianist Anton Nel returning for his third appearance with the RSO; and the bright and engaging Symphony No. 3 by Finland’s Jean Sibelius.

December 5, 2010

Sunday, 3:00 pm

Music of stage and screen decorate this holiday season “Pops” concert. Short works by George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein, Scott Joplin, John Williams, Michael LeGrand, and Dave Grusin help to spotlight our guest pianist, Michael Chertock, who will play Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and the sole Piano Concerto of the great “Pops” composer, Leroy Anderson.

February 5, 2011

Saturday, 7:30 pm

This evening, Maestro Guy Bordo launches a four-year project of “Exploring the Orchestra.” First we will Meet the Orchestra with works highlighting the various sections: Aaron Copland for percussion; Maurice Ravel for woodwinds; Richard Wagner to show off the brass; and Gustav Mahler for the lushness of the strings—and to tie it all together, Benjamin Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, narrated by Bob Johnstone.

March 12, 2011

Saturday, 7:30 pm

To herald spring’s arrival, the RSO offers an evening of Romantic music. Internationally renowned violinist, Andres Cardenes, concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, will join the RSO in the Saint-Säens Third Violin Concerto. The evening opens with American Samuel Barber’s youthful First Essay for Orchestra and closes with Dvorak’s brilliant and beautiful Eighth Symphony.

April 23, 2011

Saturday, 7:30 pm

The season concludes with a night at the movies. The Orchestra’s principal oboist, Lorraine Dorsey, is featured, along with the RSO Singers and the Young Artist Competition winner, in music ranging from Strauss to Star Wars, Mozart to Mission Impossible, and many other movie memories along the way.