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Classical Series

The Charlotte Symphony shows off its incredible range and versatility as it welcomes a variety of guest conductors and artists with perspectives from around the world. Jump to the 23-24 Season below.
 

2023-24 Season

This season, the Charlotte Symphony is honoring the past, present, and future with an exciting and eclectic range of concerts. Experience audience favorites like Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, Beethoven's "Eroica," and Holst's The Planets; plus a diverse lineup of composers and guest artists -- including works by William Grant Still, Florence Price, and Jennifer Higdon.

🎉 Music Director Designate Kwamé Ryan returns:


TCHAIKOVSKY & BRAHMS

April 5 & 6, 2024 | 7:30 pm | Belk Theater

Kwamé Ryan returns to Charlotte for the first time as the Symphony's Music Director Designate to conduct Brahms's monumental First Symphony and Tchaikovsky's charming Variations on a Rococo Theme featuring cellist Sterling Elliott. 

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Classical Series Concerts

Subscribe today for the best seats, the best prices, and great benefits. Packages of 8, 6, & 4 available for Friday & Saturday evening. Plus, our 3-concert Sunday matinee package returns! Call 704-972-2000 to add additional concerts and tickets to your subscription today. 

NEW! Children ages 6-18 can attend Sunday matinee performances for FREE with a Youth ticket or Youth Sunday matinee subscription!

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OPENING NIGHT!
BEETHOVEN'S EROICA

Oct. 6 & 7 | 7:30 pm | Knight Theater
Oct. 8 | 3 pm | Knight Theater

Experience the power and grandeur of Beethoven's monumental "Eroica" Symphony. This epic work culminates in a glorious finale that celebrates the heroic spirit. One of the most beloved works of its kind, The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto will transport you to ancient China with the tragic love story of star-crossed lovers.

Hugh Wolffconductor
Melissa Whiteviolin 

Valerie COLEMAN Umoja
CHEN Gang/HE Zhanhao The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 3 ("Eroica")

CHOPIN'S PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2

Oct. 20 & 21 | 7:30 pm | Knight Theater
Oct. 22 | 3 pm | Knight Theater

"Brilliant pianist" (The New York Times) Orli Shaham performs Chopin's lyrical and poetic Piano Concerto No. 2 in a program culminating in the bluesy "Afro-American" Symphony by William Grant Still.

Christopher James Leesconductor
Orli Shahampiano

MAYER Faust Overture
CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 2
DVOŘÁK The Noonday Witch
STILL Symphony No. 1 ("Afro-American")
 

VERDI'S REQUIEM

Nov. 17 & 18 | 7:30 pm | Belk Theater

The CSO and Charlotte Master Chorale join forces for a performance of Verdi's thrilling Requiem. Led by guest conductor Kwamé Ryan, this musical tour de force is full of contrasts from the sublime lyricism of the opening movement to the sheer terror of the work's infamous "Dies Irae."

Kwamé Ryanconductor
Charlotte Master Chorale

VERDI Messa da Requiem

HANDEL'S MESSIAH 

Dec. 1 & 2 | 7:30 pm | Knight Theater
Dec. 3 | 3 pm | Knight Theater

Handel's stunning masterpiece is back by popular demand. Join your CSO, Charlotte Master Chorale, and four soloists for this enduring oratorio filled with passion and exquisite beauty. "Hallelujah!"

Patrick Dupre Quigleyconductor
Charlotte Master Chorale

HANDEL Messiah
 

BARBER + COPLAND

Jan. 19 & 20, 2024 | 7:30 pm | Knight Theater

Commissioned for violinist Jennifer Koh as part of her New American Concerto project, Mazzoli's Procession casts the soloist as soothsayer, sorcerer, healer, and pied piper while leading the orchestra through interconnected healing spells.

Lidiya Yankovskayaconductor
Jennifer Kohviolin 

Jennifer HIGDON Cold Mountain Suite (Charlotte Symphony Co-Commission) 
Missy MAZZOLI Violin Concerto, Procession 
BARBER Second Essay for Orchestra 
COPLAND Billy the Kid Suite

RACHMANINOFF'S PIANO CONCERTO NO. 3

Feb. 2 & 3, 2024 | 7:30 pm | Belk Theater

Acclaimed young American pianist Drew Petersen performs Rachmaninoff's demanding and electrifying Piano Concerto No. 3.

Carolyn Kuanconductor
Drew Petersenpiano 

Bela BARTÓK Suite from The Miraculous Mandarin 
John ADAMS Dr. Atomic Symphony 
RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 3 
 

MOZART'S JUPITER 

Feb. 16 & 17, 2024 | 7:30 pm | Knight Theater
Feb. 18, 2024 | 3 pm | Knight Theater

Mozart's brilliant Symphony No. 41, nicknamed "Jupiter," anchors a program with Wieniawski's richly melodic Concerto for Violin No. 2, performed by "frighteningly awesome" (Buffalo News) violinist Francisco Fullana.

Keitaro Haradaconductor
Francisco Fullanaviolin 

KODÁLY Dances of Galánta
WIENIAWSKI Concerto for Violin No. 2
MOZART Symphony No. 41 ("Jupiter")

GERSHWIN'S RHAPSODY IN BLUE

March 1 & 2, 2024 | 7:30 pm | Belk Theater

Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Gershwin's jazz-infused Rhapsody in Blue with your CSO and acclaimed pianist Michelle Cann alongside the composer's energetic An American in Paris. Cann will also perform Florence Price's spirited Piano Concerto in One Movement -- a work she has championed.

Thomas Wilkinsconductor
Michelle Cann, piano 

GERSHWIN An American in Paris 
PRICE Piano Concerto in One Movement 
GERSHWIN Rhapsody in Blue 
RAVEL Daphnis et Chloe Suite No. 2 

WAGNER & STRAUSS

March 22 & 23, 2024 | 7:30 pm | Knight Theater

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Strauss's powerful Death and Transfiguration explores the ultimate mystery of what lies beyond. Principal Trumpet Alex Wilborn takes the stage to perform Böhme's virtuosic Trumpet Concerto.

JoAnn Falletta, conductor
Alex Wilborn, trumpet 

WAGNER Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde 
BÖHME Trumpet Concerto 
PERRY A Short Piece for Orchestra
STRAUSS Death and Transfiguration 

TCHAIKOVSKY & BRAHMS

April 5 & 6, 2024 | 7:30 pm | Belk Theater

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Kwamé Ryan returns to Charlotte for the first time as the Symphony's Music Director Designate to conduct Brahms's monumental First Symphony and Tchaikovsky's charming Variations on a Rococo Theme featuring cellist Sterling Elliott.

Kwamé Ryanmusic director designate
Sterling Elliott, cello 

WANG Jie Symphonic Overture "America, the Beautiful" 
TCHAIKOVSKY Variations on a Rococo Theme 
BRAHMS Symphony No. 1 
 

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS' A SEA SYMPHONY

April 26 & 27, 2024 | 7:30 pm | Belk Theater

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Chorus, orchestra, and soloists sing of ships, captains, wind, and waves with music so vivid you can almost taste the salt air in Vaughan Williams's large-scale A Sea Symphony, conducted by CSO Conductor Laureate Christopher Warren-Green.

Christopher Warren-Green, conductor 
Charlotte Master Chorale 

BRITTEN Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes
G. WILLIAMS Sea Sketches
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Symphony No. 1, A Sea Symphony

HOLST'S THE PLANETS

May 17 & 18, 2024 | 7:30 pm | Belk Theater

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Journey into the heavens with a program inspired by space including Holst's mesmerizing celestial showpiece, The Planets; Caroline Shaw's The Observatory; and CSO cellist Jeremy Lamb's A Ride on 'Oumuamua, inspired by the first known interstellar object to travel our solar system. 

William Eddinsconductor

Jeremy LAMB A Ride on 'Oumuamua 
Caroline SHAW The Observatory 
HOLST The Planets
 
*Artists and programs are subject to change at any time without notice.