ANNOUNCING THE 2025-2026 SEASON
What happens when music
becomes more than just sound?
This season, we go Beyond the Score—where Chopin sings, Stravinsky soars, Bugs Bunny dances, and Carmen defies gravity. Each performance breaks the fourth wall of tradition, inviting you to see, feel, and experience music in ways you never imagined. From animated adventures to soul-stirring requiems, aerial ballets to blooming flowers, join us for a season that brings music vividly to life.
OCTOBER 4
STORIES IN MOTION
From Myth to Modern Spark—Where Music and Imagination Ignite
Prepare to be captivated by an evening of musical brilliance, where vibrant storytelling meets timeless masterpieces. Quinn Mason’s Talk of the Town sets the stage with its charismatic and energetic flair, a piece bursting with personality and modern wit. Following this, Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor enchants with its poetic lyricism and dazzling virtuosity, showcasing the piano’s expressive power in a way only Chopin can with the incomparable Sara Davis Buechner at the keyboard. The evening culminates with Stravinsky’s spellbinding Firebird Suite (1919)—a fiery display of orchestral colors with an animated film by Spork Design bringing myth and magic to life. This program is a journey through the dynamic and the delicate, the bold and the beautiful—an unforgettable experience for music lovers of all kinds!
NOVEMBER 15
WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY PRESENTS
BUGS BUNNY AT THE SYMPHONY
Celebrating Bugs Bunny’s 85th Birthday!
Conducted by George Daugherty
Created by George Daugherty & David Ka Lik Wong
This beloved concert has played to millions all over the world with over 300 major orchestras, and now makes its Springfield Symphony premiere just in time to celebrate Bugs Bunny’s 85th Birthday, and the concert’s 35th Anniversary. Seventeen classic Looney Tunes will be projected on the big screen as the Springfield Symphony performs the original, iconic scores LIVE as inspired by Wagner, Rossini, Donizetti, Johann Strauss, Liszt, Smetana, Mendelssohn, and von Suppé! Don’t miss Baton Bunny, The Rabbit of Seville, What’s Opera, Doc?, Corny Concerto, Long-Haired Hare, and many other animated masterpieces – plus brand new additions, including the WORLD PREMIERE season of a just-completed animated short saluting Bugs’ 85 years on the silver screen, plus a suite of three new Wile E. Coyote/Road Runner 3D shorts, it’s the ultimate version of this cherished concert!
LOONEY TUNES and all related characters and elements © & TM Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s25)
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JANUARY 24
TIMELESS WHIMSY
Elegant Escapes and Enchanted Hours in Classical Style
Step into a world of elegance, charm, and symphonic brilliance with a program that delights at every turn! The evening begins with Boieldieu's La Dame Blanche Overture, a sparkling and dramatic introduction filled with lyrical melodies and theatrical flair. Then, the Cincinnati Symphony’s Principal Oboe, Dwight Parry will join the SSO for Jean Françaix's The Flower Clock that takes listeners on a whimsical journey through time, each movement representing a different hour of the day during which an exotic flower blooms with enchanting orchestral colors. The night culminates with Muzio Clementi’s Symphony No. 4, a masterful blend of Classical grace and Romantic spirit, showcasing Clementi’s gift for stirring melodies and grand orchestration. From playful moments to sweeping grandeur, this concert is a feast for the ears—captivating, elegant, and utterly unforgettable!
MARCH 14
VIRTUOSITY
AND VISION
A Symphony of Spirit, Wit, and Heroic Grandeur
Indulge in an evening of exquisite artistry and symphonic grandeur with a program that seamlessly blends playfulness, virtuosity, and sheer orchestral power. Poulenc’s Les Biches opens the concert with its lively, elegant charm—an effervescent ballet score that exudes wit and sophistication. Next, African American sensation Njioma Grevious leads a voyage through Saint-Saëns' Violin Concerto No. 3 a work marked by lyrical beauty and fiery virtuosity, a stunning showcase of the violin’s expressive range. The night reaches its breathtaking conclusion with Sibelius' Symphony No. 5, a masterpiece of sweeping melodies and triumphant grandeur, culminating in one of the most thrilling finales in all of classical music. From the light-hearted to the heroic, this program is a celebration of musical brilliance that will leave audiences spellbound!
APRIL 18
MOZART’S REQUIEM
A Journey Through Mystery, Mourning, and Musical Transcendence
Experience one of the most profound and powerful masterpieces ever composed—Mozart’s Requiem. A work shrouded in mystery and emotion, this final composition by Mozart resonates with depth, drama, and transcendent beauty. From the haunting Dies Irae to the soaring Lacrimosa, the Requiem is a journey through sorrow, redemption, and musical brilliance. With its stirring choral passages and dramatic orchestration, this timeless work captivates audiences, leaving an unforgettable impression. Whether you are drawn to its history, its spiritual weight, or its sheer musical magnificence, Mozart’s Requiem is an experience that speaks to the soul.
MAY 16
CARMEN REIMAGINED
Where Passion Dances and Music Defies Gravity
Passion, drama, and breathtaking acrobatics collide in Troupe Vertigo's Carmen—a spectacular fusion of classical music and dazzling physical artistry. Set to Bizet’s iconic score, this thrilling production reimagines Carmen with gravity-defying aerialists, mesmerizing dancers, and world-class musicians, bringing the fiery tale to life in a way you’ve never seen before. With every twist, turn, and leap, Troupe Vertigo’s performers capture the intensity and allure of Carmen, creating an electrifying experience that blends elegance with sheer athleticism. Prepare to be amazed by a performance where music, movement, and storytelling soar to new heights!
