Dvorák & Firebird

Join us for a season finale of bold contrasts and artistic innovation at Dvorák & Firebird, a celebration of sound and emotion that transcends time and culture. The program opens with Strauss’s Death and Transfiguration, a profound depiction of life’s final journey. We welcome back Curtis Stewart, the 2025/2026 Joyce C. Willis Artist in Residence, presenting a juxtaposition of his work The Famous People with Dvorák ‘s Slavonic Dances. Experience a unique interplay as the orchestra performs three original movements from Slavonic Dances, each followed by Stewart’s imaginative recompositions, creating a dynamic dialogue between Dvorák’s timeless melodies and Stewart’s contemporary interpretations. Marvel at Stewart’s virtuosic artistry as he performs Sarasate’s dazzling violin showpiece Zigeunerweisen.

The concert culminates with Stravinsky’s enchanting Firebird Suite (1919), a masterful blend of folklore and innovative orchestration. This concert offers a rich exploration of how music can reflect personal and cultural transformations.