A mix of blockbuster and breakout, this dynamic program brings fresh perspective to the familiar, pairing beloved classics with some of today’s rising voices. 

GRAMMY-nominated composer Carlos Simon sets the tone with Four Black American Dances, a rhythmic and richly textured SFSO premiere rooted in historical Black American movement traditions, including the spiritual depth of the Ring Shout to the smooth glide of Chicago’s steppin’ scene. 

In the Florida premiere of Had to Be, fellow GRAMMY nominee Nathalie Joachim offers a deeply personal exploration of memory, identity, and loss. Seth Parker Woods, hailed by The New York Times as “a cellist of prodigious technical gifts and sharp intellect,” this poignant work is a rare and intimate experience not to be missed. 

The mood shifts with Mozart’s brilliant “Haffner” Symphony, fusing formal grace with a  celebratory spirit.  

Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol is a perennial audience favorite bursting with dazzling solos and Spanish flair. A joyful tour de force, it’s the perfect high-energy finale to a program brimming with style, substance, and discovery.