The MSO welcomes the return of guest conductor Bernard Labadie. Best known as an expert in Baroque and Classical repertoire, Labadie is an ideal conductor for Beethoven’s first symphony, which is awash in inspiration from Mozart and Haydn. Benedetto Lupo, a pianist recognized for blending “meticulous technique with romantic sensitivity” (Birmingham News), performs Beethoven’s third … Continued

Mahler’s fifth symphony is a dramatic journey through life, death, and everything in between — in other words, it’s Mahler at his finest. Guest conductor Jader Bignamini, Music Director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, returns to conduct this epic masterpiece, which pairs heartbreaking funeral marches with the blinding rays of hope we expect from this … Continued

Stephanie Childress — a conductor with “irresistible, headlong energy” (Financial Times) — leads one of classical music’s grandest spectacles: Holst’s The Planets. With movements including the ethereal “Neptune, the Mystic” to the thundering “Mars, the Bringer of War,” this iconic suite sweeps you to the heavens. The MSO’s own Margaret Butler takes center stage with … Continued

Ukrainian conductor Kirill Karabits — “an inspired architect with an energizing presence” (The Telegraph) — makes his MSO debut with Tchaikovsky’s second symphony, called the “Ukrainian” for its use of Russian and Ukrainian folk themes throughout; this is some of Tchaikovsky’s most cheerful music, reflecting his deep love for the region. Another fellow countryman, Mussorgsky, … Continued

In Beethoven’s first piano concerto, we begin to hear the composer step away from imitation and into his own true voice; Orli Shaham performs this daring concerto. Schumann’s “Rhenish” symphony was inspired by a happy vacation along Germany’s Rhine river, and its music glitters with sunlight. Guest conductor Kristiina Poska — “an iron baton in … Continued

Often considered Richard Strauss’s most profound music, his Four Last Songs — all based on poems — are a parting gift to Strauss’s wife…and to the world. Artistic Partner David Robertson leads his sumptuous all-Strauss program, which comprises more of the composer’s most beloved music: his lyrical serenade for wind instruments; his tone poem of … Continued