Mar. 4, 2024 – Denver, CO – The Colorado Symphony is thrilled to unveil its 2024/25 Season taking place at downtown Denver’s Boettcher Concert Hall. Journey with us into our second century as we traverse through magnificent symphonic works that you’ve come to know and love, reach new heights with elevated guest artists, and explore additional terrains with innovative and diverse programming. Peter Oundjian’s third season as Principal Conductor is teeming with incredible programming highlighted by performances alongside legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman, American singer/songwriter LeAnn Rimes, and star of stage and screen Leslie Odom, Jr.
Perlman joins Oundjian and the orchestra for a special one-night-only event featuring Beethoven’s illustrious violin concerto on January 18, 2025. Phenomenal singer-songwriter LeAnn Rimes performs alongside your Colorado Symphony and Resident Conductor Christopher Dragon in a can’t-miss performance on September 28, 2024, featuring some of her biggest hits including “How Do I Live,” “One Way Ticket (Because I Can),” “I Need You,” “Can’t Fight The Moonlight,” and “Blue.” Leslie Odom, Jr., best known for his breakout role as ‘Aaron Burr’ in the hit musical Hamilton, returns to Denver on December 7, 2024, to perform holiday favorites, selections from his 2020 release titled The Christmas Album, and more with Christopher Dragon on the podium.
“The Colorado Symphony and I are thrilled to celebrate a new season of spectacular music from a diverse and talented roster of composers, featuring a blend of old and new, all performed by a collection of some of the finest musicians in the world,” said Oundjian. “For the last 100 years, the Colorado Symphony has been a beacon of inspiration, captivating audiences with the magic of live orchestral performances. Today, we aim to push the boundaries of classical music and create experiences that resonate with both seasoned concertgoers and new audiences alike. As we look ahead to our 101st season, we’re delighted to present a schedule positively overflowing with extraordinary talent and exciting repertoire that we can’t wait to share with our community.”
The 2024/25 Season begins with a program featuring Dvořák’s “New World Symphony”, Gershwin’s Concerto in F with superstar pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and Berlioz’s Roman Carnival, all led by Oundjian on Classics Opening Weekend from September 13-15. Additional masterworks highlights of the season include Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with pianist Simon Trpčeski on a program that also features Mahler’s Seventh Symphony, Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 featuring Yeol Eum Son alongside Brahms’ First Symphony, Bruckner’s Eighth Symphony, Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony, Beethoven’s Sixth and Seventh Symphonies, Holst’s The Planets, and a season finale featuring Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with violinist Augustin Hadelich on a program that also includes Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique.
The Colorado Symphony Chorus will feature prominently throughout the season, including on a special 40th Anniversary Celebration of their first-ever performance featuring the Verdi Requiem in October and Orff’s Carmina Burana in April.
The Colorado Symphony will also screen and perform the scores from several beloved films including Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, The Nightmare Before Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanTM, and How to Train Your Dragon along with a symphonic tribute to comedy icon Mel Brooks.
Other highlights of the season include collaborations with some of music’s biggest names including mandolin superstar Chris Thile, banjo extraordinaire Béla Fleck, and thrilling mandolinist Avi Avital. Thile’s brand-new work for mandolin, vocals, and orchestra — Attention! — will feature his trademark whimsical songwriting and storytelling, instrumental virtuosity, and ever-present sense of humor. Fleck’s latest project expands and explores Gershwin’s iconic Rhapsody in Blue by paying homage to the legendary composer while redefining an American classic — just in time for its centennial. Fleck’s mastery of the banjo transforms the familiar orchestral piece into a mesmerizing exploration of genres, seamlessly blending classical and bluegrass influences. Avital shows the versatility that Vivaldi’s timeless The Four Seasons maintains to this day in a stunning performance using mandolin in place of the traditional violin.
Discover the entire season now at coloradosymphony.org. Subscription packages for the 2024/25 Season, which include both series-specific and customizable package options, go on sale today, March 4. Flex Passes, which offer six (6) ticket vouchers guests can use for best-available seats to most concerts in the season, redeemable the week of the selected performance, are also on sale as of March 4.
Single tickets for all concerts will be available starting June 10, 2024, with a separate announcement to precede the date. For concert descriptions and ticket information, please visit coloradosymphony.org or call the box office at 303.623.7876.