Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5

October 10 & 11, 2025 | 7:30 PM | Knight Theater

In the series opener, a lively work by Mason Bates kicks off a program of striking contrasts, setting the stage for Shostakovich's First Cello Concerto. By turns biting, brooding, and darkly humorous, the concerto reveals the composer's signature defiance -- a quality that often put him at odds with Soviet authorities. Finally, the towering Fifth Symphony, written in the shadow of Stalin's oppressive regime, unfolds with gripping drama and raw emotion, evoking both resilience and a deeply rooted connection to his Russian homeland.

Kwamé Ryan, conductor
Joshua Roman, cello

Mason BATES Attack Decay Sustain Release
SHOSTAKOVICH Cello Concerto No. 1
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 5

Beethoven's Symphony No. 5

October 24 & 25, 2025 | 7:30 PM | Knight Theater
October 26, 2025 | 3:00 PM | Knight Theater

Beethoven's Fifth Symphony -- an electrifying masterpiece and one of the most iconic works in classical music -- takes audiences on a captivating journey from darkness to triumph, propelled by the famous four-note theme of fate knocking at the door. The concert opens with CSO Spotlight Artist Gabriel Kahane's evocative Judith, part of the new CSO Spotlight Series, followed by Amy Beach's Piano Concerto, a bold and expressive showcase from one of America's pioneering composers.

Tianyi Lu, conductor
Soyeon Kate Lee, piano

Gabriel KAHANEJudith
BEACH Piano Concerto
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5

Respighi's Pines of Rome

November 14 & 15, 2025 | 7:30 PM | Belk Theater

Duruflé's Requiem intertwines medieval melodies and Gregorian chant with lush, impressionistic harmonies, igniting an evening of passion and beauty with a deeply spiritual and introspective atmosphere. Respighi's colorful tone poems transport audiences into the heart of the Eternal City, painting a vivid picture of the lush landscapes and sparkling fountains that inspired the composer's sense of belonging in his newly adopted home.

Francesco Lecce-Chong, conductor
Charlotte Master Chorale

DURUFLÉ Requiem 
RESPIGHI Fountains of Rome 
RESPIGHI Pines of Rome

Handel's Messiah

December 5 & 6, 2025 | 7:30 PM | Knight Theater
December 7, 2025 | 3:00 PM | Knight Theater

One of the most revered choral works in history, Handel's Messiah takes audiences on a journey of hope and redemption. From the exuberant "Hallelujah" Chorus to moving arias such as "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth," this timeless holiday annual tradition remains a must-see for everyone.

Grant Llewellyn, conductor
Charlotte Master Chorale 

HANDEL        Messiah

Strauss's Blue Danube

January 9 & 10, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Belk Theater

A sweeping tribute to Vienna and the rich tradition of the waltz, this program shimmers with color and breathtaking virtuosity, offering a brilliant start to the new year. Strauss's "On the Beautiful Blue Danube" weaves through a glimmering path, evoking Vienna's famous river. Chausson's fiery yet lavish Poème and Ravel's dazzling Tzigane showcase Concertmaster Calin Ovidiu Lupanu, while Liszt's Mephisto Waltz whirls from darkness to wild exhilaration. Finally, the Suite from Der Rosenkavalier brings the concert to a joyful close. 

Shiyeon Sung, conductor 
Calin Ovidiu Lupanu, violin 

J. STRAUSS II "On the Beautiful Blue Danube"
CHAUSSON Poème
LISZT Mephisto Waltz, No. 1
RAVEL Tzigane
R. STRAUSS Suite from Der Rosenkavalier

Prokofiev & Schumann

January 30 & 31, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Knight Theater
February 1, 2026 | 3:00 PM | Knight Theater

Ives's The Unanswered Question opens the program with a haunting meditation on existence, as searching strings and restless winds drift through an eternal mystery. Prokofiev's bold and electrifying Piano Concerto No. 3 follows with virtuosic brilliance and biting wit. Finally, Schumann's Symphony No. 2 rises from darkness into triumph -- a testament to resilience, overflowing with soaring melodies and unshakable spirit. 

Kwamé Ryan, conductor
Ran Dank, piano 

IVES The Unanswered Question 
PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 3 
R. SCHUMANN Symphony No. 2 

Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5

February 13 & 14, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Belk Theater

As part of the CSO Spotlight Series, Artistic Partner Gabriel Kahane joins the Orchestra to perform his Pattern of the Rail, a song cycle inspired by his cross-country train journey through the United States in the wake of the 2016 Presidential election. Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 closes the program, tracing a journey from brooding darkness to triumphant resolve, with sweeping melodies and dramatic power. 

Kwamé Ryan, conductor 
Gabriel Kahane, piano and vocals 

Dani HOWARD Argentum 
Gabriel KAHANE Pattern of the Rail: Six Orchestral Songs from Book of Travelers 
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 5 

Ravel's Boléro

March 6 & 7, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Belk Theater

In a program dedicated to musical expressions of home, Smetana's Vltava traces the river's journey through the Czech countryside, offering a stirring tribute to his homeland. Charlotte-based Syrian composer Malek Jandali's Clarinet Concerto weaves ancient Syrian themes into an expressive and deeply personal work. Clarice Assad transcends borders, blending sounds from across the Americas into a vibrant musical tapestry in Sin Fronteras. The program comes to a mesmerizing close with Ravel's Boléro featuring a film that showcases the dynamic spirit of Charlotte through iconic locations -- a powerful tribute to the Orchestra's home and the musicians who shape its sound.  

Christopher James Lees, conductor 
Taylor Marino, clarinet

SMETANA Vltava ("The Moldau") from Má vlast  
Malek JANDALI Clarinet Concerto 
Clarice ASSAD Sin Fronteras 
RAVEL Boléro (with film) 

Dvořák's New World Symphony

March 27 & 28, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Knight Theater
March 29, 2026 | 3:00 PM | Knight Theater

Soprano Janai Brugger joins Music Director Kwamé Ryan and the Orchestra for works exploring themes of home, nostalgia, and longing, including "The Trees on the Mountain" from Floyd's Susannah and Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915. The evening culminates with Dvořák's "New World" Symphony. Composed during his time in the United States, this symphony blends elements of his Czech heritage with American musical influences, capturing the excitement of a new world while reflecting his deep yearning for home, particularly through the moving melody, later turned into the popular song, "Goin' Home." 

Kwamé Ryan, conductor 
Janai Brugger, soprano 

WALKER Lyric for Strings
FLOYD "The Trees on the Mountain" from Susannah 
STRAVINSKY "No Word from Tom" from The Rake's Progress 
BARBER Knoxville: Summer of 1915 
DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9, "From the New World" 

Beethoven's Emperor Concerto

April 10 & 11, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Belk Theater

Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto, a heroic masterpiece composed amidst the chaos of the 1809 French siege of Vienna, highlights a program of discord and beauty. Despite the tumultuous backdrop, Beethoven's brilliance shines through in an inspiring dialogue between the soloist and orchestra, blending majestic power with sublime beauty. Marianna Martines's Sinfonia in C Major opens the program with vibrant energy, highlighting the classical style of a trailblazing composer -- recognized as the first woman to compose a symphony. The Charlotte Master Chorale joins the Orchestra for the U.S. Premiere of Anna Clyne's The Years, a poignant musical response to the forced isolation and uncertainty of the 2020 pandemic.  

Stephanie Rhodes Russell, conductor
Inon Barnatan, piano
Charlotte Master Chorale

MARTINES Sinfonia in C Major 
Anna CLYNE The Years (U.S. Premiere) 
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5, "Emperor" 

Gershwin & Bernstein

April 24 & 25, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Belk Theater

Svendsen's Romeo and Juliet, a sweeping fantasia for orchestra, opens the program with passionate music that vividly portrays the emotional highs and tragic lows of Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers. A Symphonic Picture from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess brings the love story to life, blending jazz, blues, and opera to tell a tale of love against the odds in Charleston's Catfish Row. The program concludes with Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, a reflection of the love between Tony and Maria and the conflict between their rival gangs, set against the backdrop of New York City's gritty streets. 

Kwamé Ryan, conductor 

SVENDSEN Romeo and Juliet, Fantasia for Orchestra 
GERSHWIN/orch. Bennett Porgy and Bess, A Symphonic Picture 
BERNSTEIN Symphonic Dances from West Side Story 

Copland & Kahane

May 15 & 16, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Knight Theater

The season concludes with a deeply personal and poignant reflection on the meaning of home. As part of the CSO Spotlight Series, Artistic Partner Gabriel Kahane's emergency shelter intake form delivers a powerful oratorio-style work that explores homelessness from multiple perspectives, featuring a choir of community members directly touched by homelessness, eviction, or housing insecurity. Jennifer Higdon's vibrant tribute to Atlanta's skyline opens the program, capturing the city's dynamic energy through lush orchestration. Copland's Suite from Appalachian Spring offers a contrasting portrayal of a couple trying to establish a homestead in rural America. 

Kwamé Ryan, conductor
Alicia Hall Moran, mezzo-soprano
Gabriel Kahane, vocals/guitar
Holland Andrews, vocals
Holcombe Waller, vocals
Community Chorus

Jennifer HIGDON "SkyLine" from City Scape
COPLAND Suite from Appalachian Spring 
Gabriel KAHANEemergency shelter intake form