Menacing timpani rolls set the tone for Rossini's solemn Overture to Semiramide, a deceivingly upbeat narration of family rivalries. Bartók's Dance Suite—featuring five original Hungarian folk soundscapes composed for the 50th anniversary of the merger of Buda and Pest—offers a vibrant musical journey. Chopin's poetic Piano Concerto No. 1 stands as a sparkling showcase of virtuosity.

Verdi’s tangled and tragic operatic tale La Forza del Destino complements the symphonic fantasy Francesca da Rimini, Tchaikovsky’s interpretation of the eternal torment of elicit lovers depicted in Dante’s Inferno narrative. Concertmaster Nikki Chooi tackles the celebrated improvised cadenzas of Beethoven’s monumental Violin Concerto in D major.

Dreamlike images in orchestral colors infuse the ethereal Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, Debussy’s iconic tone poem. Buffalo-born Robert Paterson’s colorful Triple Concerto compellingly examines Earth’s fragility, while Beethoven’s gentle Sixth Symphony portrays a charming countryside turn, evoking deep relaxation and contentment.