Classical Concerts

The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra is celebrating in style – 85 years of making beautiful music and 10 years under the direction of Music Director Christopher Seaman. The orchestra’s history is rich in the music of the masters, performed alongside exciting new American pieces, all for your enjoyment. You’ll find more of that interesting and eclectic mix this season – choose the series that best fits your taste and join the celebration!

Philharmonics Concerts

Our flagship series, featuring the full orchestra performing great orchestral works from Baroque to contemporary, including pieces by Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky and many others.

Symphony 101 Concerts

A unique concert experience in an intimate setting, designed to create a deeper appreciation of orchestral music. The 90-minute concert includes Christopher Seaman's lively talk from stage, musical examples and an audience Q&A.

Special Events

Opening Night, The Nutcracker, Handel's "Messiah," Gala Holiday Pops and more

For chronological concert listings, see below.

	Opening Night: Red Carpet Spectacular SPECIAL Oct. 6, 2007, Eastman Theatre – Christopher Seaman celebrates his 10th anniversary with the RPO and the 85th Anniversary of the Orchestra with this special opening night concert featuring Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring and Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.
	Opening Weekend! André Watts PHILS 1 Oct. 10 & 11, 2008, Eastman Theatre, Series A, B & D – Pianist André Watts joins the RPO for Beethoven's Emperor Concerto and Christopher Seaman conducts Shostakovich's Festive Overture and Dvořák's New World Symphony. Note: Thursday subscribers will have tickets for the special Friday concert.
	A Sea Symphony PHILS 1 Oct. 11 & 13, 2007, Eastman Theatre, Series A, C & F - Christopher Seaman conducts Handel's Water Music Suite and Vaughan Williams' Symphony No. 1 "A Sea Symphony" with soprano Jane Eaglen, baritone Dean Elzinga and the Rochester Oratorio Society, Eric Townell, director.
	Bach & Handel SYM 101-1 Oct. 12 & 14, 2007, Hochstein/Roberts Wesleyan College – Christopher Seaman explores music by Bach and Handel.
	Mendelssohn's Scottish PHILS 2 Oct. 25 & 27, 2007, Eastman Theatre, Series A, B & D – Guest conductor Hugh Wolff leads Henri Dutilleux's Métaboles, Ravel's Piano Concerto in G with soloist Jon Kimura Parker and Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3 "Scottish."
	Brahms' Fourth PHILS 3 Nov. 1 & 3, 2007, Eastman Theatre, Series A, C & F – Christopher Seaman conducts Tobias Picker's Old and Lost Rivers, Michael Daugherty's Deus Ex Machina Piano Concerto with soloist Terrence Wilson and Brahms' Symphony No. 4.
	Beethoven's Pastoral PHILS 4 Nov. 15 & 17, 2007, Eastman Theatre, Series A, B & D – Christopher Seaman leads the RPO in Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 "Pastoral," Bartók's Violin Concerto No. 1 with soloist William Preucil and Smetana's "The Moldau" from Ma Vlast.
	Haydn & Mozart SYM 101-2 Nov. 16 & 18, 2007, Hochstein/Roberts Wesleyan College – Christopher Seaman explores music by Haydn and Mozart.
	Handel's Messiah SPECIAL Dec. 14 & 15, 2007, Eastman Theatre – Christopher Seaman and your RPO joins forces with the Rochester Oratorio Society to bring Handel's glorious masterpiece to the Eastman Theatre.
	Zarathustra! PHILS 5 Jan. 10 & 12, 2008, Eastman Theatre, Series A & C – Guest conductor Eri Klas leads Sibelius’ A Saga, Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C Major with soloist Stefan Reuss (The Clara and Edwin Strasenburgh Chair) and R. Strauss’ Also sprach Zarathustra.
	From the Top Jan. 20, 2008 - Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and WXXI present the hit public radio program at Callahan Theater at Nazareth College.
	Bolero PHILS 6 Jan. 24 & 26, 2008, Eastman Theatre, Series A, B & D – Christopher Seaman conducts John Corigliano’s Fantasia on an Ostinato, Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with soloist Juliana Athayde (The Caroline W. Gannett & Clayla Ward Chair), Dukas’ La Péri: Poème dansé and Ravel’s Bolero.
	Beethoven SYM 101-3 Jan. 25 & 27, 2008, Hochstein/Spencerport High School – Christopher Seaman explores music by Beethoven.
	Spanish & Latin Classics PHILS 7 Feb. 7 & 9, 2008, Eastman Theatre, Series A & C – Guitarist Sharon Isbin joins the RPO for Three Pieces for Guitar & Orchestra (arranged by conductor Jeff Tyzik) and Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez. The concert also includes music by Piazzolla, Ginestera, Surinach and Santoro.
	Brilliant Beethoven PHILS 8 Feb. 21 & 23, 2008, Eastman Theatre, Series A & B – Jerzy Semkow conducts Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with soloist William Wolfram and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 6.
	Scheherazade! PHILS 9 Feb. 28 & March 1, 2008, Eastman Theatre, Series A, C & F – Christopher Seaman leads the RPO in Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture, Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 22 with pianist Joseph Kalichstein and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade.
	Schumann & Brahms SYM 101-4 Feb. 29 & March 2, 2008, Hochstein/Roberts Wesleyan College – Christopher Seaman explores music by Schumann & Brahms.
	Fountains of Rome PHILS 10 March 6 & 8, 2008, Eastman Theatre, Series A & B – Guest conductor Thomas Wilkins leads Respighi’s Fountains of Rome, Jeff Tyzik’s Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra with soloist Mark Kellogg (The Austin E. Hildebrandt Chair) and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7.
	Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique PHILS 11 March 20 & 22, 2008, Eastman Theatre, Series A, C & F – Christopher Seaman conducts this 85™ Anniversary concert featuring Herbert’s Irish Rhapsody, Grieg’s Piano Concerto with soloist Louis Lortie and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 “Pathétique.”
	Mozart & Strauss PHILS 12 April 17 & 19, 2008, Eastman Theatre, Series A, B & D – Christopher Seaman leads the RPO in an all-Orchestral program featuring Mozart’s Overture to “La clemenza di Tito,” Mozart’s Symphony No. 38 "Prague," R. Strauss’ Serenade in E-flat for Winds and R. Strauss’ Suite from “Le Bourgeois gentilhomme.”
	Bruckner & Mahler SYM 101-5 April 18 & 20, 2008, Hochstein/Roberts Wesleyan College – Christopher Seaman explores music by Bruckner & Mahler.
	Sibelius' Fifth PHILS 13 April 24 & 26, 2008, Eastman Theatre, Series A, C & F – Guest conductor Alexander Mickelthwate leads Mozart’s Symphony No. 25 “Little G Minor,” Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto with soloist Jennifer Koh and Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5.
	Yo-Yo Ma in Concert with Your RPO SPECIAL May 5, 2008, Eastman Theatre – SOLD OUT - Internationally acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma performs with the RPO for the first time in nearly ten years in a special one-night-only concert conducted by Christopher Seaman.
	Carmina Burana PHILS 14 May 22 & 24, 2008, Eastman Theatre, Series A, B & D – Christopher Seaman conducts R. Strauss’ Don Juan, Delius’ Walk to the Paradise Garden and Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Rochester Oratorio Society, Eric Townell, director.
	Stravinsky, Bartók & Beyond SYM 101-6 May 23 & 25, 2008, Hochstein/Roberts Wesleyan College – Christopher Seaman explores music by Stravinsky, Bartók and beyond.
	Juliana Athayde plays Brahms PHILS 2 Oct. 30 & Nov. 1, 2008, Eastman Theatre, Series A, C & F – RPO Concertmaster Juliana Athayde tackles Brahms' Violin Concerto. The program also includes Borodin's Symphony No. 2 and Tchaikovsky's Marche Slave.
	Nakamatsu Plays Mozart PHILS 3 Nov. 6 & 8, 2008, Eastman Theatre, Series A, B & D – Pianist Jon Nakamatsu joins the RPO for Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 "Elvira Madigan" and Christopher Seaman conducts music by Sibelius and Tippett.
	Beethoven & Schubert SYM 101-1 Nov. 7 & 9, 2008, Hochstein – Christopher Seaman explores music by Beethoven and Schubert.
	Passionate Piano PHILS 4 Nov. 20 & 22, 2008, Eastman Theatre, Series A, C & F – Pianist Andrew von Oeyen returns for Liszt's Totentanz and guest conductor Andrew Grams leads Haydn's Symphony No. 49 and Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra.
	Rossini & Weber SYM 101-2 Nov. 21 & 23, 2008, Hochstein – Benton Hess explores music by Rossini and Weber.
	Handel's Messiah SPECIAL Dec. 13, 2008, Eastman Theatre – Christopher Seaman and your RPO join forces with the Rochester Oratorio Society to bring Handel's glorious masterpiece to the Eastman Theatre.
	Shostakovich's Defiant Fifth PHILS 5 Jan. 22 & 24, 2009, Eastman Theatre, Series A & B – RPO Principal Flute Rebecca Gilbert performs Nielsen's Flute Concerto and Jahja Ling conducts Mussorgsky's Overture to "Kovanschina" and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5.
	Josefowicz plays Beethoven PHILS 6 Jan. 29 & 31, 2009, Eastman Theatre, Series A & C – Leila Josefowicz returns for Beethoven's Violin Concerto and Christopher Seaman conducts music by Gabrieli, Smetana and Janáček
	Grieg, Wagner & Brahms SYM 101-3 Jan. 30 & Feb. 1, 2009, Hochstein – Christopher Seaman explores music by Grieg, Wagner and Brahms.
	Valentine's Weekend: Romeo & Juliet and Carmen PHILS 7 Feb. 12 & 14, 2009, Eastman Theatre, Series A & B – The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet performs the East Coast Premiere of Sergio Assad's new concerto for four guitars and Christopher Seaman leads Debussy's Ibéria, selections from Bizet's Carmen and Prokofiev's Suite from "Romeo & Juliet."
	Tchaikovsky's Fifth PHILS 8 Feb. 19 & 21, 2009, Eastman Theatre, Series A & C – Daniel Hege conducts Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5, Hanson's Mosaics and Barber's Cello Concerto with cellist Julie Albers.
	Mahler's Sixth PHILS 9 March 5 & 7, 2009, Eastman Theatre, Series A, B & D – Günther Herbig conducts Mahler's Symphony No. 6 "Tragic."
	Haydn's Bi-centennial PHILS 10 March 19 & 21, 2009, Eastman Theatre, Series A, C & F – Christopher Seaman conducts Haydn's Creation with the Eastman-Rochester Chorus and soloists Barbara Shirvis, Michael Colvin and Stephen Powell.
	Dvořák & Franck SYM 101-4 March 20 & 22, 2009, Hochstein – Christopher Seaman explores music by Dvořák and Franck.
	Schumann & Brahms PHILS 11 April 16 & 18, 2009, Eastman Theatre, Series A, B & D – Pianist John Lill returns for Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2 and Christopher Seaman conducts R. Schumann's Symphony No. 4.
	Stravinsky & Elgar SYM 101-5 April 17 & 19, 2009, Hochstein – Christopher Seaman explores music by Stravinsky and Elgar.
	Symphonie fantastique PHILS 12 April 30 & May 2, 2009, Eastman Theatre, Series A, C & F – Pianist Pascal Rogé joins the RPO for Saint-Saëns' Piano Concerto No. 5 and James Gaffigan conducts Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique and Satie's Gymnopédies No. 1 & 3.
	Rachmaninoff's Second PHILS 13 May 7 & 9, 2009, Eastman Theatre, Series A, B & D – Guest conductor Yoav Talmi leads Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2 and his own Double Marriage of Figaro as well as Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 4 with Stefan Jackiw.
	The Planets PHILS 14 May 21 & 23, 2009, Eastman Theatre, Series A, C & F – Christopher Seaman conducts Holst's The Planets and Haydn's Symphony No. 45 "Farewell" in the final concert in Eastman Theatre before the renovation.
	Vaughan Williams & Bartók SYM 101-6 May 22 & 24, 2009, Hochstein – Christopher Seaman explores music by Vaughan Williams and Bartók.