The 28th season, Juxtapositions, ignites with passion and striking contrasts.  

Pulitzer Prize and three-time GRAMMY awardee, Jennifer Higdon’s “Cathedrals” from All Things Majestic captures the grandeur of vast, awe-inspiring spaces. Inspired by Wyoming’s towering Teton Mountains, this piece contrasts shimmering light and deep shadows, drawing listeners into a sonic cathedral carved by nature itself. 

Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 1 is a whirlwind of movement—elegant yet fiery, delicate yet commanding. With no pause from start to finish, the music flows in an unbroken surge of passion and virtuosity. GRAMMY-winning cellist Zuill Bailey returns to SFSO bringing his signature artistry to this electrifying work. 

Originally composed for violin, Massenet’s “Méditation” from Thaïs takes on new depth in this interpretation for cello—an SFSO first. A hushed prayer amid the opera’s high drama, this sublime interlude floats with quiet longing, its soaring melody and gentle orchestral backdrop offering a moment of pure transcendence. 

Shostakovich’s final Symphony No. 15 is a puzzle of contradictions—playful yet ominous, nostalgic yet unsettling. Quotations from Rossini’s William Tell Overture and Wagner’s Ring Cycle collide with stark, haunting melodies, blurring the lines between satire, farewell, and mystery. Is it humor? Is it reflection? Shostakovich leaves us to decide.