Saint-Saëns’ piano concerto is an ingenious tour de force of virtuosic technique, its movements portraying a sea voyage to exotic ports of call. Paired with the colorful and raucous revelry of the Italian equivalent of Mardi Gras, the two works preface Mendelssohn’s delightful recollections of a sojourn through Italy in his youth.

Saint-Saëns’ piano concerto is an ingenious tour de force of virtuosic technique, its movements portraying a sea voyage to exotic ports of call. Paired with the colorful and raucous revelry of the Italian equivalent of Mardi Gras, the two works preface Mendelssohn’s delightful recollections of a sojourn through Italy in his youth.

Two premiere chroniclers of the American experience bookend a program presenting the world premiere of Adolphus Hailstork’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone, written for the BPO and performed by the superb Tim McAllister.

Two premiere chroniclers of the American experience bookend a program presenting the world premiere of Adolphus Hailstork’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone, written for the BPO and performed by the superb Tim McAllister.