October 10 & 11, 2008

Andris Nelsons, conductor
Sarah Chang, violin

Adams: The Chairman Dances
Theofanidis: Violin Concerto (premiere)
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2

Superstar violinist Sarah Chang gives the world premiere of Theofanidis’ soaring Violin Concerto. Adams’ The Chairman Dances is from his acclaimed opera Nixon in China. Rachmaninoff’s lush Symphony No. 2 brings the concert to a stirring finale.

October 24, 25, & 26, 2008

Marek Janowski, conductor
Arabella Steinbacher, violin

Bruch: Scottish Fantasy
Berlioz: King Lear Overture
Strauss: Macbeth

European star Arabella Steinbacher debuts with Bruch’s beautiful Scottish Fantasy, a four-movement concerto based on Scottish folk melodies originally composed for violin virtuoso Pablo de Sarasate. Two important works by Shakespeare are brought to musical life by Berlioz and Strauss.

November 20, 21 & 23, 2008

Manfred Honeck, conductor
Garrick Ohlsson, piano

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4
Bruckner: Symphony No. 4

Famed pianist Garrick Ohlsson performs Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, perhaps the most transcendent of the composer’s five piano concertos. The Symphony No. 4 is one of the most popular and moving of Bruckner’s nine monumental symphonies.

January 30 & 31, 2009

Yan Pascal Tortelier, conductor
Orion Weiss, piano

Sibelius: The Swan of Tuonela
Grieg: Piano Concerto
Ravel: Trio (orch. Tortelier)
Dukas: The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Dukas’ famous The Sorcerer’s Apprentice tells the musical tale of an apprentice who enchants a broomstick to do his chores. However, he soon loses control of his magical broomstick until the sorcerer returns home to save the day. The Swan of Tuonela is a rarely performed gem and Grieg’s only and very popular Piano Concerto flourishes under the expert hands of Orion Weiss.

February 27 & 28, 2009

Manfred Honeck, conductor
Rudolf Buchbinder, piano

Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1
Dvorák: Symphony No. 8

Viennese pianist Rudolf Buchbinder performs Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1 – a dramatic and fiery yet romantic tour de force. Dvorák’s cheerful Symphony No. 8 draws its inspiration from Bohemian folk music.

April 17, 18 & 19, 2009

Leonard Slatkin, conductor
Denis Matsuev, piano

Rachmaninoff: Vocalise
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3

Closing the Rachmaninoff Festival, Leonard Slatkin presents Rachmaninoff’s elegant Vocalise and his last composition, Symphonic Dances. Russian pianist Denis Matsuev performs Rachmaninoff’s magnificent Piano Concerto No. 3, made even more famous recently by the movie Shine.

June 12 & 14, 2009

Manfred Honeck, conductor
Simona Saturová, soprano
Elizabeth DeShong, mezzo-soprano
Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh

Mahler: Symphony No. 2, “The Resurrection”

Manfred Honeck brings the 2008 • 2009 BNY Mellon Grand Classics Season to a close with Mahler’s sublime Symphony No. 2, known as “The Resurrection.” This monumental programmatic work, featuring full orchestra and chorus, proclaims the composer’s belief that there is life after death.