This month, Susanna Mälkki returns to the east coast for concerts with the New World Symphony and Philadelphia Orchestra. On Saturday, October 16, she conducts the New World Symphony and one of the world’s premier pianists Jean-Yves Thibaudet for an exclusive evening of musical fireworks and fanfare. The program includes Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2, a popular and daring work that departed from the conventions of its genre and was said to be an overt expression of the political conflict then reigning over Finland. Also on the program is Liszt’s thrilling Piano Concerto No. 2 and James Lee III’s Sukkot Through Orion’s Nebula, commissioned by NWS.

On October 21, 22, 23, Mälkki returns to the Philadelphia Orchestra to conduct a riveting program of works by M. Wagner, Mozart, and StravinMozart’sart’s Oboe Concerto, filled it’s its soaring cadenzas and irresistible melodies, will feature newly appointed Principal Oboist, Philippe Tondre, who is just the eighth person to hold this title in the past 121 years. Philadelphia native Melinda Wagner took inspiration from Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 for her piece Little Moonhead. The concert concludes with Stravinsky’s charming Pulcinella Suite.

Photo credit: Jiyang Chen