Home to some of the most popular and recognizable tunes in classical music, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 was an instant success and remains one of the most performed orchestra pieces today. Reviewing Joyce Yang’s performance, one critic noted that she “brought forth from the audience as visceral and sustained a standing ovation as I’ve heard in response to a concerto.” Don’t miss this concert, which opens with the orchestra’s performance of Bedrich Smetana’s symphonic poem, The Moldau, which depicts the journey of that river in his Bohemian homeland.

Often considered Brahms’s greatest chamber work, the Piano Quintet in F Minor had a complex compositional history. Completed in 1864, it began life two years earlier as a string quintet, which was then transcribed for two pianos. In its final form, it is notable for its musical cohesiveness and a brooding quality that ranges from the tragic to the practically possessed. Join Festival musicians for this special chamber concert in the Pavilion.

Plagued by insecurity, Tchaikovsky wrote about this symphony: “I am exceedingly anxious to prove to myself, as to others, that I am not played out as a composer.” Judge for yourself, but there’s a reason this monumental piece makes a great season finale: some of the loveliest tunes ever written, leading to a smashing and triumphant finale. The main challenge most audiences have is holding back their applause until the very end!