
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 pmOctober 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 TheaterPre-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 pmDecember 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 TheaterPre-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 TheaterPre-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 pmFebruary 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 TheaterPre-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 TheaterPre-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 TheaterPre-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 TheaterPre-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 TheaterPre-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