The two-time GRAMMY Award-winning Albany Symphony‘s highly anticipated season for 2025-26 has been announced, featuring an outstanding lineup of performances.
The season’s incredible concerts ahead include Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite, Holst’s The Planets, and the world premiere of a new violin concerto by Bobby Ge.
The Albany Symphony presented a romantic Valentine’s weekend concerts on February 15 and 16 at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. The concerts featured Rachmaninoff’s gorgeous Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, performed by 19-year-old superstar pianist Harmony Zhu. Also featured were Robert Schumann’s radiant Symphony No. 1, his “Spring” symphony, Loren Loiacono’s thrilling orchestral tour-de-force, Sleep Furiously, and Randall Thompson’s charming travelogue, A Trip to Nahant.
“We are absolutely thrilled to share one of the most romantic works ever written for piano and orchestra, Rachmanioff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, as the centerpiece of this delicious program. We are delighted to bring back pianist Harmony Zhu, whose deep musical sensitivity and sparkling personality stretch beyond her 19 years of age. She is definitely a superstar in the making and someone to watch! Loren Loiacono, our brilliant composer friend, returns for the recording premiere of her breakthrough piece from 2016, which dazzled us all at its premiere. Troy Savings Bank Music Hall is about to embark on some very exciting renovations, so this is your last chance to hear the orchestra in that acoustically splendid, legendary hall before our return in December 2025. Hearing Schumann’s thrilling First Symphony in the hall’s flawless acoustical space Is an unforgettable experience. Schumann wrote it in the first flush of his marriage to Clara, and it celebrates both the coming of spring and their passionate romance.”
– David Alan Miller
Rachmanioff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini is one of the most famous and beloved works in the repertoire. It was composed during the summer of 1934 and premiered in Baltimore, with Rachmaninoff at the piano. The work is a musical depiction of the 19th-century violinist Paganini and conjures his love affairs and his pact with the devil.
Season subscriptions are available and offer flexibility, convenience, and price savings. Through the Nielsen Associates’ Student Access Program, students can purchase discount subscriptions and enjoy the full benefits of being a subscriber for as little as $45. To purchase a subscription online or to find more information, click here.
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