PRE-CONCERT TALKS

The Charlotte Symphony is committed to delivering exceptional musical experiences. By sharing information and the exciting stories behind the music before each Classical series concert, we hope concertgoers will feel more connected to the in-concert experience.

Resident Conductor Christopher James Lees, or a guest conductor or artist, leads a discussion about the evening's repertoire and composers an hour prior to the performance.

Belk Theater

Belk Theater pre-concert talks take place on the Mezzanine Level of the lobby (unless otherwise noted below).

Knight Theater

Knight Theater pre-concert talks take place in the Wells Fargo Pre-Function Space (unless otherwise noted below). Once you enter the Knight Theater by the Box Office, take the stairs on your right down one level.

Upcoming Talks

BEETHOVEN'S EROICA

October 6 & 7 | 7:30 pm
October 8 | 3 pm
Knight Theater

Pre-Concert Talk:
6:30 pm (Fri & Sat) & 2 pm (Sun)
Wells Fargo Pre-Function Space
with Resident Conductor Christopher James Lees
and violinist Melissa White

Program:
Melissa White, violin

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

CHOPIN'S PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2

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

Pre-Concert Talk:
6:30 pm (Fri & Sat) & 2 pm (Sun)
Wells Fargo Pre-Function Space
with Resident Conductor Christopher James Lees

Program:
Orli Shaham, piano

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

VERDI'S REQUIEM

November 17 & 19 | 7:30 pm | Belk Theater

Pre-Concert Talk:
6:30 pm | Lobby - Mezzanine Level
with Guest Conductor Kwamé Ryan

Program:
Charlotte Master Chorale

VERDI Messa da Requiem

HANDEL'S MESSIAH

December 1 & 2 | 7:30 pm
December 3 | 3 pm
Knight Theater

Pre-Concert Talk:
6:30 pm (Fri & Sat) & 2 pm (Sun)
Wells Fargo Pre-Function Space

Program:
Charlotte Master Chorale

HANDEL Messiah

JENNIFER KOH PLAYS MAZZOLI

January 19 & 20 | 7:30 pm | Knight Theater

Pre-Concert Talk:
6:30 pm | Wells Fargo Pre-Function Space
with Guest Conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya

Program:
Jennifer Koh, violin

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

February 2 & 3 | 7:30 pm | Belk Theater

Pre-Concert Talk:
6:30 pm | Lobby - Mezzanine Level
with Guest Conductor Carolyn Kuan

Program:
Drew Petersen, piano

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

MOZART'S JUPITER

February 16 & 17 | 7:30 pm
February 18 | 3 pm
Knight Theater

Pre-Concert Talk:
6:30 pm (Fri & Sat) & 2 pm (Sun)
Wells Fargo Pre-Function Space

Program:
Calin Ovidiu Lupanu, violin

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

GERSHWIN'S RHAPSODY IN BLUE

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

Pre-Concert Talk:
6:30 pm | Lobby - Mezzanine Level
with Guest Conductor Thomas Wilkins

Program:
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 | 7:30 pm | Knight Theater

Pre-Concert Talk:
6:30 pm | Wells Fargo Pre-Function Space
with Guest Conductor JoAnn Falletta

Program:
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 | 7:30 pm | Belk Theater

Pre-Concert Talk:
6:30 pm | Lobby - Mezzanine Level

Program:
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 | 7:30 pm | Belk Theater

Pre-Concert Talk:
6:30 pm | Lobby - Mezzanine Level
with Conductor Laureate Christopher Warren-Green

Program:
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 | 7:30 pm | Belk Theater

Pre-Concert Talk:
6:30 pm | Lobby - Mezzanine Level
with Guest Conductor William Eddins

Program:
Jeremy LAMB A Ride on 'Oumuamua
Caroline SHAW The Observatory
HOLST The Planets