phils
ANDREAS DELFS, MUSIC DIRECTOR
Join Music Director Andreas Delfs in the intimate setting of Beston Hall on the campus of Nazareth University for our popular Sunday Matinees at Naz Series!
SEPTEMBER 21
MOZART & POULENC
Andreas Delfs, conductor
Jeanelle Thompson, violin The Dr. Ralph F. Jozefowicz Chair
MARCH 29
MOZART & PROKOFIEV
Andreas Delfs, conductor
Erik Behr, oboe The Dr. Jacques M. Lipson Chair
Pavane pour une infante défunte
Oboe Concerto in C major, K. 314
PROKOFIEV Classical Symphony
MAY 24
MOZART & HAYDN
Andreas Delfs, conductor
Juliana Athayde, violin The Caroline W. Gannett & Clayla Ward Chair
Chiao-Wen Cheng, piano The Lois P. Lines Chair
Così Fan Tutte Overture
LIEBERMANN Chamber Concerto Symphony No. 104, “London”
sunday matinees
These high-demand concerts are perennial sellouts, so don’t miss your chance to lock in your reserved seating subscription while you still can! Choose your favorite seats from three price zones starting at just $159 for all four concerts. See the attached seating and pricing chart for more details or call our Patron Services Center at 585-454-2100.
Message from the Maestro
It is my profound pleasure to welcome you to yet another exhilarating Philharmonics Series Season with your RPO! Our extraordinary 25/26 Season finds this Great American Orchestra building on the wave of momentum created by our past two seasons as we continue to showcase the artistic brilliance of your RPO with programs designed to move, inspire, and connect us all through the transformative power of music.
Anchoring the season are two exciting multi-weekend festivals. In October, experience our All-Beethoven Festival, with four epic programs over two weekends featuring Symphonies 3, 5, 6 and 7, plus concerti with Rochester favorites Jon Nakamatsu (piano), Benjamin Beilman (violin), and Jonathan Biss (piano), along with your own RPO stars Juliana Athayde (violin), Ahrim Kim (cello), and Chiao-Wen Cheng (piano).
Then, in January, our RPO Dance Festival presents a groundbreaking collaboration with Rochester’s own Garth Fagan Dance, who thrilled us in The Rite of Spring during our centennial season, and the Rochester City Ballet, highlighted by my new arrangement of Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet Suite, created just for this occasion.
Other season highlights include the return of piano legends Yefim Bronfman and Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and violin virtuoso Gil Shaham, as well as the Rochester debut of Julian Schwarz performing Jennifer Higdon’s First Cello Concerto. We’ll also bring you powerful new pieces from Avner Dorman, Lowell Liebermann, and Aaron Jay Kernis as part of our Voices of Today initiative, which enables us to commission, present, and disseminate new works from diverse composers. And finally, you won’t want to miss our spectacular season finale as I lead the orchestra and the Rochester Oratorio Society through a sparkling performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, a true tour de force!
From the timeless genius of Beethoven to the bright promise of contemporary masterpieces, every program is designed to uplift your spirit, ignite your imagination, and celebrate the limitless possibilities of music.
Together, let’s create more unforgettable memories with your RPO!
ANDREAS DELFS, MUSIC DIRECTOR
EXPERIENCE SUNDAY AFTERNOON PHILHARMONICS AT EASTMAN THEATRE! For the second straight season, you’ll be able to experience the new tradition of attending an RPO concert in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre on Sunday afternoons! Once again, the full season, 14-concert Philharmonics Series A subscription will feature an option for 7 Thursday night concerts starting at 7:30 PM and 7 Sunday afternoon concerts starting at 2 PM. You’ll also find Sunday afternoon options in our Half and Mini Season packages as well. Look for the SUN icon next to each Sunday afternoon Philharmonics concert to help plan your complete 25/26 season schedule!
SUN Look for this icon next to Sunday afternoon Philharmonics Series concerts!
You Asked, We Listened!
Enhancing your concert experience is always our top priority. After reviewing survey responses and feedback from patrons and subscribers, we’re pleased to announce our 25/26 Season will feature a start time of 7:30 PM for all evening Philharmonics and Pops Series performances.
This change will provide you and your family with a greater level of convenience and flexibility, allowing for a more relaxed evening, an earlier return home, or even the chance to enjoy a post-concert outing.
We are committed to making your RPO experience as enjoyable as possible, and we truly appreciate your input in shaping the future of our concerts. Thank you for being such an important part of our musical family—we look forward to seeing you in Kodak Hall for another unforgettable season!
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 | 7:30 PM
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 | 2 PM SUN
SEASON OPENER! BREATHTAKING BARBER
Andreas Delfs, conductor | Anne Akiko Meyers, violin
MASON BATES Mothership
BARBER Violin Concerto
DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 6
Music Director Andreas Delfs leads our soaring season opener with a thrilling mix of energy and elegance. Esteemed American violinist Anne Akiko Meyers brings her signature radiance to Barber’s deeply expressive Violin Concerto, a work of lyrical beauty and dazzling virtuosity. Mason Bates’ high-octane Mothership launches the program with modern flair, while Dvořák’s joyous Symphony No. 6 fills Kodak Hall with rich melodies and Bohemian spirit. An awe-inspiring start to an unforgettable season!
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9 | 7:30 PM
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11 | 7:30 PM
FIRE & FANTASY
Paolo Bortolameolli, conductor | Blake Pouliot, violin
WAGNER Overture to The Flying Dutchman
SAINT-SAËNS Violin Concerto No. 3
PROKOFIEV Symphony No. 3
Prepare for a night of fire and fantasy as Paolo Bortolameolli leads the RPO. Wagner’s Overture to The Flying Dutchman evokes the raging sea, ghostly fate, and redemptive love that define the haunting legend. “A special talent that comes along once in a lifetime” (Toronto Star), violinist Blake Pouliot dazzles in Saint-Saëns’ Violin Concerto No. 3, a triumph of soaring melodies. Then, Prokofiev’s thrilling Symphony No. 3 takes center stage, weaving a gripping tale of mystery, intensity, and symphonic fire.
WEEK 1:
Andreas Delfs, conductor
Jonathan Biss, piano
Juliana Athadye, violin The Caroline W. Gannett & Clayla Ward Chair
Ahrim Kim, cello The Clara and Edwin Strasenburgh Chair
Chiao-Wen Cheng, piano The Lois P. Lines Chair
THU, OCT 23 | 7:30 PM
ALL BEETHOVEN PROGRAM A Egmont Overture
Piano Concerto No, 2, with Jonathan Biss Symphony No. 3, “Eroica”
SAT, OCT 25 | 7:30 PM
ALL BEETHOVEN PROGRAM B
Leonore Overture No. 3
Triple Concerto, with RPO soloists Symphony No. 5
Experience the genius of Beethoven in the first weekend of the RPO’s All-Beethoven Festival, led by Andreas Delfs. On October 23, pianist Jonathan Biss brings grandeur to Piano Concerto No. 2, alongside the heroic Egmont Overture and groundbreaking “Eroica” Symphony. On October 25, RPO soloists Juliana Athayde, Ahrim Kim, and Chiao-Wen Cheng shine in the Triple Concerto, paired with the dramatic Leonore Overture No. 3 and the iconic Symphony No. 5. A must-see celebration of Beethoven’s brilliance!
WEEK 2:
Andreas Delfs, conductor Benjamin Beilman, violin | Jon Nakamatsu, piano
THU, OCT 30 | 7:30 PM
ALL BEETHOVEN PROGRAM A Fidelio Overture
Violin Concerto, with Benjamin Beilman Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral”
SAT, NOV 1 | 7:30 PM
ALL BEETHOVEN PROGRAM B Coriolan Overture
Piano Concerto No. 1, with Jon Nakamatsu Symphony No. 7
The All-Beethoven Festival continues with two extraordinary programs conducted by Maestro Delfs. On October 30, violinist Benjamin Beilman brings lyricism and virtuosity to Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, alongside the dramatic Fidelio Overture and the serene beauty of the “Pastoral” Symphony. Then, on November 1, pianist Jon Nakamatsu sparkles in the composer’s bold Piano Concerto No. 1, paired with the gripping Coriolan Overture and the rhythmic energy of the Seventh Symphony.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 | 7:30 PM SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16 | 2 PM SUN
TCHAIKOVSKY’S SLEEPING BEAUTY
François López-Ferrer, conductor | Karen Gomyo, violin
GABRIELA ORTIZ Kauyumari
MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto
DE FALLA The Three-Cornered Hat, Suite No. 2
TCHAIKOVSKY Sleeping Beauty Suite, Op. 66a
Journey through a night of vivid storytelling. Gabriela Ortiz’s Kauyumari opens with mystical energy, inspired by the sacred blue deer of the Huichol people. The Chicago Tribune deems Karen Gomyo “a first-rate artist of vitality, brilliance, and intensity”, tackling Mendelssohn’s soaring Violin Concerto. De Falla’s The Three-Cornered Hat Suite No. 2 brims with fiery Spanish rhythms, while Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty Suite enchants with its fairy-tale splendor.
KAREN GOMYO
NOV 15 & 16
8 & 10
THURSDAY, JANUARY 8 | 7:30 PM
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10 | 7:30 PM
ROMANCE & REVELATION
Andreas Delfs, conductor
Yefim Bronfman, piano | Jasmine Habersham, soprano
LOWELL LIEBERMANN new work for soprano and orchestra
SCHUMANN Piano Concerto
MAHLER Symphony No. 4
JAN 31 & FEB 1
& 14 JEAN-YVES THIBAUDET
FEB 26 & 28
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12 | 7:30 PM SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14 | 7:30 PM
SAINT-SAËNS & MENDELSSOHN
Lina Gonzáles-Granados, conductor | Saskia Giorgini, piano
LILI BOULANGER D'un Matin du printemps
SAINT-SAËNS Piano Concerto No. 2
MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 3, “Scottish”
Experience an evening of wondrous beauty as Andreas Delfs leads the RPO in a program of lyricism and grandeur. The incomparable Yefim Bronfman brings passion and poetry to Schumann’s Piano Concerto, while soprano Jasmine Habersham lends her radiant voice to a Lowell Liebermann world premiere (Voices of Today commission). Habersham is also featured in Mahler’s luminous Symphony No. 4, a work of celestial serenity and childlike wonder. Don’t miss this spellbinding night of symphonic storytelling!
DANCE FESTIVAL
SATURDAY, JANUARY 24 | 7:30 PM SUNDAY, JANUARY 25 | 2 PM SUN
AMERICAN MASTERS WITH GARTH FAGAN DANCE
Aram Demirjian, conductor | Garth Fagan Dance
BERNSTEIN Three Dance Episodes from On the Town
PHILIP GLASS Days and Nights in Rocinha COPLAND Symphony No. 3
The RPO’s Dance Festival kicks off with an electric program led by Aram Demirjian and featuring Garth Fagan Dance, who dazzled Kodak Hall two seasons ago in Rite of Spring. Bernstein’s On the Town: Three Dance Episodes bursts with jazz-infused energy, while Philip Glass’ hypnotic Days and Nights in Rocinha evokes the vibrant pulse of Brazil. The evening culminates in Copland’s majestic Symphony No. 3, a sweeping celebration of American spirit, featuring the iconic Fanfare for the Common Man.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 31 | 7:30 PM SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1 | 2 PM SUN
JEAN-YVES THIBAUDET AND ROCHESTER CITY BALLET
Andreas Delfs, conductor
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano | Rochester City Ballet
NICOLAI Merry Wives of Windsor Overture
AARON JAY KERNIS new piano concerto
PROKOFIEV (ARR. DELFS) Romeo & Juliet Suite
The Dance Festival continues with a remarkable fusion of music and movement, led by Andreas Delfs. The evening begins with the lively overture to The Merry Wives of Windsor before piano virtuoso Jean-Yves Thibaudet takes on a thrilling world premiere by Aaron Jay Kernis (Voices of Today commission). Rochester City Ballet then brings Shakespeare’s greatest love story to life in Delfs’ own arrangement of Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet Suite. Passion, finesse, and drama take center stage!
GARTH FAGAN DANCE JAN 24 & 25 ROCHESTER CITY BALLET JAN 31 & FEB 1
MAR 21
Celebrate love and passion this Valentine’s Day with the remarkable artistry of Saskia Giorgini as she shines on Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2. Giorgini plays as if she “has something to say, and she wears it on her sleeve.” (NativeDSD). Lina González-Granados leads the RPO with Mendelssohn’s “Scottish” Symphony, sweeping you away to misty landscapes and heartfelt melodies. Plus, Lili Boulanger’s D’un matin de printemps opens the concert with youthful energy and fresh springtime romance.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26 | 7:30 PM SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28 | 7:30 PM
DAZZLING DVOŘÁK
Marcelo Lehninger, conductor | Paul Huang, violin
CARLOS SIMON Festive Fanfare and Overture
DVOŘÁK Violin Concerto
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 1
Join the RPO for a night of intensity! Marcelo Lehninger leads a provocative program, opening with Carlos Simon’s vibrant Festive Fanfare and Overture. The Chicago Tribune hails Lehninger for keeping “sophistication to the fore”! Acclaimed violinist Paul Huang brings his signature passion to Dvořák’s enchanting Violin Concerto, brimming with Bohemian spirit. The evening culminates with Shostakovich’s striking Symphony No. 1, a work that crackles with wit, drama, and youthful genius. Don’t miss these dynamic soundscapes and powerful artistry!
SATURDAY, MARCH 21 | 7:30 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 22 | 2 PM SUN
BAROQUE TO BRILLIANCE
Andreas Delfs, conductor | Gil Shaham & Adele Anthony, violin
BACH Brandenburg Concerto No. 3
AVNER DORMAN A Time to Mourn and a Time to Dance
SARASATE Navarra
MOZART Symphony No. 41, “Jupiter”
Prepare to be dazzled as “one of the most brilliant couples in classical music” (Guardian). Gil Shaham and Adele Anthony perform Sarasate’s fiery Navarra and Bach’s lively Brandenburg Concerto No. 3. Andreas Delfs leads the RPO in Avner Dorman’s world premiere A Time to Mourn and a Time to Dance (a Voices of Today commission), an evocative new work blending reflection and celebration. The evening concludes with Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 (“Jupiter”), a masterful fusion of drama and beauty.
SATURDAY, APRIL 18 | 7:30 PM SUNDAY, APRIL 19 | 2 PM SUN
BRAHMS IN BLOOM
Andreas Delfs, conductor | Julian Schwarz, cello
SAMY MOUSSA Elysium
JENNIFER HIGDON new cello concerto BRAHMS Symphony No. 3
PACKAGING + PRICING INFORMATION
Immerse yourself in a night of soaring melodies and profound beauty as Julian Schwarz makes his RPO debut performing Jennifer Higdon’s new Cello Concerto. “He brings musicality and insight to every page”, hails South Florida Classical Review. Andreas Delfs leads the orchestra in Samy Moussa’s ethereal and evocative Elysium before closing with Brahms’ rich and lyrical Symphony No. 3—a masterful work of passion and warmth. Don’t miss this evening of radiant new music and timeless inspiration!
THURSDAY, MAY 7 | 7:30 PM SATURDAY, MAY 9 | 7:30 PM
RHYTHM & ROMANCE
Lan Shui, conductor | Wu Man, pipa
ADAMS The Chairman Dances
ZHAO JIPING Pipa Concerto No. 2
FAURÉ Pelléas et Mélisande Suite
RAVEL La Valse
Experience a mesmerizing fusion of musical worlds as the legendary Wu Man brings the haunting beauty of the pipa to life in Zhao Jiping’s Pipa Concerto No.2. The pipa is a 2,000-year-old, lute-like instrument and Man, the world’s leading pipa player. Lan Shui leads the RPO in an exhilarating program featuring John Adams’ The Chairman Dances, Fauré’s evocative Pelléas et Mélisande, and the swirling intensity of Ravel’s La Valse. A night of rhythm, romance, and riveting orchestral color awaits!
SEASON FINALE: CARMINA BURANA
Andreas Delfs, conductor Pacho Flores, trumpet Rochester Oratorio Society
ROBERTO SIERRA Salseando
CARL ORFF Carmina Burana
The season reaches a thrilling climax as Andreas Delfs leads the RPO, the Rochester Oratorio Society, a children’s choir, and powerhouse soloists in Carl Orff’s electrifying Carmina Burana—a choral spectacle of fate, fortune, and unrelenting rhythm. The program opens with Pacho Flores performing Roberto Sierra’s stunning trumpet concerto Salseando. Don’t miss this astonishing finale, where voices and orchestra unite in one of the most exhilarating masterpieces of all time! SATURDAY, MAY 30 | 7:30 PM
ORCHESTRA
25/26 PACKAGES
SAT, SEPT 27 & SUN, SEPT 28
THU, OCT 9 & SAT, OCT 11
THU, OCT 23
SAT, OCT 25
4. EETHOVEN FESTIVAL WEEK 2: (A PROGRAM: WITH BENJAMIN BEILMAN) (B PROGRAM: WITH JON NAKAMATSU)
THU, OCT 30
SAT, NOV 1
SAT, NOV 15 & SUN, NOV 16
THU, JAN 8 & SAT, JAN 10
7. DANCE FESTIVAL WEEK 1: WITH GARTH FAGAN DANCE
8.
FESTIVAL WEEK 2:
SAT, JAN 24 & SUN, JAN 25
SAT, JAN 31 & SUN, FEB 1
THU, FEB 12 & SAT, FEB 14
THU, FEB 26 & SAT, FEB 28
SAT, MAR 21 & SUN, MAR 22
SAT, APR 18 & SUN, APR 19
THU, MAY 7 & SAT, MAY 9
SAT, MAY 30 & SUN, MAY 31
Subscriber rewards
Experience the quality, variety, and value that only an RPO subscription can provide. Buy more, save more, and enjoy more perks!
ALL SUBSCRIBERS
Save up to 27% OFF per concert within your subscription package, plus:
• Preferred seats to ALL concerts—ahead of the general public
• Free and easy exchanges* from one concert to another
• Presale access to newly announced concerts—before the general public
• Up to 15% discount towards Add-On concerts
HOW TO RENEW
1. Complete Your Order Form
Fill out the enclosed order form with your desired package, day, price level, and number of seats. Please include your complete contact information and remember to add concerts you’re interested in not included in your subscription!
2. Place Your Order
RPO.ORG/RENEW
(24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
MAIL OR IN-PERSON:
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
255 East Avenue, Suite LL02, Rochester, NY 14604
Attention: Patron Services Center
PHONE: 585-454-2100
Please have your credit card and order form ready. Monday–Friday, 10 AM–5 PM
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
*exclusions may apply
After you complete your subscription order, we will send you a confirmation via email. Please be sure to include your email address on your order form.
Your subscription seats will be assigned to you by late June 2025. You will be notified by email prior to tickets going on sale to the general public in late July 2025. Upon receiving the email, you may call in to discuss other seating options. We will make every effort to accommodate you. Requests for changes are honored according to the date orders are received and paid, with full series Philharmonics A and Pops X subscribers receiving priority.
If you add tickets to your package, we will assign those seats starting in June after all subscriber packages have been seated.
Subscribers may request exchanges upon subscribing. Those requests will then be processed by our Patron Services team starting June 2025.
In early August, you will receive your season and add-on tickets.
Satisfaction guaranteed! Ticket refunds are available up to the first performance date in your package. Handling fees are non-refundable.
QUESTIONS? ?
We’re happy to help! Call the RPO Patron Services Center at 585-454-2100.
Our Patron Services Center is located at 255 East Avenue, in the rear of the Farash Building. Free parking is available for your convenience.