Metropolitan Opera soprano Heidi Melton brings luminous vocal power to Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs—a transcendent farewell to life written in the final year of the composer’s life. Set to poems by Hermann Hesse and Joseph von Eichendorff, these songs are filled with serenity, acceptance, and a radiant beauty that seems to suspend time itself. For many, Four Last Songs stands as one of the most sublime expressions of human mortality in music.

Opening the program is Malek Jandali’s Phoenix in Exile, a deeply moving work dedicated to the resilience of Syrian refugees. Jandali, one of the leading voices among Arab-American composers, weaves together traditional Middle Eastern modes with Western orchestral language. Phoenix in Exile reflects both sorrow and strength, mourning loss while celebrating hope—themes that feel especially urgent in today’s global climate of displacement and cultural upheaval.

The program concludes with Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10, a powerful portrait of survival and coded resistance under Soviet tyranny. Written shortly after Stalin’s death, the symphony’s brooding intensity and explosive scherzo are underscored by the composer’s use of his musical monogram—DSCH—asserting his identity and defiance. Together, these works explore how artists confront oppression, transcend adversity, and illuminate the human experience.

Land that I Love celebrates the beauty of the American western landscapes from the rolling prairies to the glorious Grand Canyon! Myra Monfort Artist in Residence, Grammy Award-winning cellist Zuill Bailey joins CSO for the world premiere of Pasturelands Cello Concerto by CSO’s Composer in Residence, Jeff Lippencott. But first, audiences will enjoy the jazzy vibes of Gould’s American Symphonette No. 2 and the concert closes with Grofé’s iconic Grand Canyon Suite.

Guest Artists Underwritten by the Kenneth & Myra Monfort Charitable Foundation.

• Gould, American Symphonette No. 2

• Lippencott, Pasturelands Cello Concerto, Guest Conducted by Jeff Lippencott, featuring The Myra Monfort Artist in Residence, Zuill Bailey

• Grofé, Grand Canyon Suite

This concert is made possible in part by a grant from the American Music Project (americanmusicproject.net)

Our centerpiece concert of the season, Held in Light, pairs two deeply moving works—Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem, a serene and spiritually uplifting choral masterwork with Elaine Hagenberg’s Illuminare, a newly composed work celebrating light breaking through the darkness. We will perform both works with a full professional orchestra of instrumentalists from across the Front Range and feature the expressive artistry of baritone, Harrison Hintzsche and mezzo-soprano, Nicole Asel.

Duruflé’s Requiem, based on ancient Gregorian chant and French impressionism, has been praised for its “gentle radiance” and “profound sense of peace,” offering comfort rather than drama in its reflection on life and death. Hagenberg’s Illuminare brims with vibrant energy and shimmering textures. She explains, “Illuminare reflects the journey from shadows into light—both musically and spiritually—a reminder that light is always present, even in waiting.”

Celebrate the spirit of the season at Sphere’s festive concert “The Snow Ball” with holiday and winter weather favorites arranged by and for your favorite string ensemble! Hear selections from our “Concise Nutcracker,” our delightful “Tales of Hanukkah,” favorite carols including “I Saw Three Ships,” “Coventry Carol,” “O Holy Night,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Also, Colombian “Por Oriente Asoma,” Argentine tango “Papá Baltasar,” 8th century monastic “O Come O Come Emmanuel,” and Vivaldi’s dramatic “Winter.” Hear a holiday program unlike any other, with traditional and unique songs to celebrate this jolly and joyful winter season.

Celebrate the spirit of the season at Sphere’s festive concert “The Snow Ball” with holiday and winter weather favorites arranged by and for your favorite string ensemble! Hear selections from our “Concise Nutcracker,” our delightful “Tales of Hanukkah,” favorite carols including “I Saw Three Ships,” “Coventry Carol,” “O Holy Night,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Also, Colombian “Por Oriente Asoma,” Argentine tango “Papá Baltasar,” 8th century monastic “O Come O Come Emmanuel,” and Vivaldi’s dramatic “Winter.” Hear a holiday program unlike any other, with traditional and unique songs to celebrate this jolly and joyful winter season.

MERRY MOZART featuring Mina Gajić and Nurit Pacht with COmpass REsonance

Mozart captured the exuberance and joy of life better than any other orchestral composer, weaving layers of delight into his music—like an exquisite musical confection celebrating life’s wonder, splendor, laughter, and pure happiness. This captivating program invites you to immerse yourself in the sheer beauty and playful spirit of Mozart’s works, designed to uplift and charm the soul.

Balkan pianist Mina Gajić brings her distinctive artistry to Mozart’s deeply heartfelt Piano Concerto No. 11 (K. 413), collaborating with the acclaimed COmpass REsonance (CORE) and esteemed guest violinist and leader, Nurit Pacht. This sparkling, virtuosic, and delightfully engaging program highlights beloved Mozart compositions cherished by string musicians, including two renowned Divertimentos that embody the elegance and clarity of the Classical Style. Under Nurit’s expert guidance, known for her dynamic performances and nuanced understanding of 18th-century music, CORE’s virtuoso string orchestra skillfully brings Mozart’s sublime harmonic beauty vividly to life. Mina’s extensive expertise with the harpsichord and historical pianos ensures her interpretations brim with agile precision and playful exuberance.

Adding festive joy to the occasion, and perfectly timed just days before Christmas, CORE will premiere newly commissioned arrangements of beloved holiday carols, reimagined with a delightful Mozartian twist.

COmpass REsonance (CORE) is a conductorless ensemble uniting acclaimed musicians from across the U.S. alongside Colorado’s finest talents. CORE’s artists, comprising concertmasters, principal orchestral players, and distinguished quartet performers from Asia, Europe, and North America, gather in Boulder to present innovative musical experiences that transcend time and culture.

Mina Gajić plays with “tremendous insight…remarkable sensitivity and thoroughness…” -StringThings

"Immediately apparent is the duo’s uncanny unity of phrasing. In each gesture — whether long sequences of harmony, punchy statements, delicate lifts, or phrases that come to a halt at the edge of an emotional cliff – Carrettín and Gajić share the same sense of propulsion, giving their playing a lean power and an extra glimmer of energy...daring virtuosity, tossed off with glee." -Early Music America

“Pacht’s sultry, bittersweet playing of the blues movement confirmed that hers is a special artistry.” -London Times

“Nurit Pacht’s sound is as assertive as her temperament is charismatic. She grabs the music with an extraordinary intensity which gives each note its proper expressive weight.” -Le Temps (Switzerland)

Ring in the New Year with Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Hear electrifying performances, thrilling surprises, and see Colorado’s biggest balloon drop in a bold, high energy, symphonic celebration.