The exceptional young Russian pianist Kirill Gerstein (winner of the 2001 Arthur Rubinstein Piano Competition) makes his ASO debut in Liszt's sumptuous work, preceded by Beethoven's stormy opera overture. Stravinsky's ballet Petrushka tells the magical story of a lovelorn puppet who lives, woos, dies, and (just possibly) becomes immortal at a Russian Mardi Gras fair.

In January 2010 Gerstein was named the recipient of the 2010 Gilmore Artist Award, only the sixth musician to have been so honored. The Gilmore Artist Award is made to an exceptional pianist who, regardless of age or nationality, possesses broad and profound musicianship and charisma and who desires and can sustain a career as a major international concert artist.

Robert Kapilow (composer of The Polar Express) brings his creativity to one of the best-selling books of all time. Dr. Seuss’s story of Sam-I-Am’s love for green eggs and ham and his attempts to convince a neighbor to try some is an everlasting treat for children — and a can’t-miss event for yours.

If 2008 was The Year of Lang Lang (Fred Child, Performance Today), this concert will prove that the remarkable pianist isn’t one to rest on his laurels. Expect nothing less than jaw-dropping virtuosity in Chopin’s beloved concerto. Lang Lang and the ASO will give an encore performance March 18 to open the Savannah Music Festival.

Rocket into space with Obi Wan Krajewski and his galactic crew in a salute to composer John Williams. Thrill to the most popular music from Williams’s scores to all the Star Wars films and to Indiana Jones, ET, Jaws, Jurassic Park and Harry Potter.

The world's most popular jazz trumpeter returns after last season’s sellout show! Spend an extraordinary evening with the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Wynton Marsalis and his celebrated big band.

Mr. Järvi, from the esteemed Estonian conducting family (Paavo is his brother, Neeme his father), brings a contrasting pair of Stravinsky ballets: the spare, neoclassical Pulcinella and the luxuriant Firebird. Simone Dinnerstein, acclaimed for her recent recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations, makes her ASO debut with one of the master's equally fascinating concertos.

As the Orchestra dives into a spectacular season with European artists and travels abroad, ASO patrons have a chance to uncover their own European Connections! Join the Patron Partnership of the ASO at the home of local Estonians, Kristi and Aadu Allpere, for a special evening of music, mingling and discussion featuring Estonian conductor, Kristjan Järvi.

Complimentary for Patron Partnership Members $1750+

“Welcome to the Machine,” indeed! The extraordinary Pink Floyd cover band, The Machine (“There's no one better equipped than this act when it comes to celebrating the music of Pink Floyd.” - Rolling Stone), performs with the ASO, Jere Flint conducts.

Maestro Petrenko, Chief Conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, brings a fascinating all-Tchaikovsky program: the picturesque Manfred Symphony, based on Lord Byron's novel, followed by the always youthful First Piano Concerto, featuring the spectacular Irish pianist Barry Douglas.

Revived to acclaim at the 2005 Salzburg Festival, Die Gezeichneten ("The Branded") is Franz Schreker's 1918 opera of sex, death, and artistic creativity. The wondrously talented Midori plays the brilliant Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, and German-born Maestro Zagrosek concludes with Beethoven's resounding symphonic salute to all things heroic.

April 17—May 9, 2010
Don't miss the 40th annual Decorators' Show House & Gardens, an Atlanta springtime tradition, organized by the all-volunteer Atlanta Symphony Associates to benefit the ASO's Learning Community programs. Tour one of Atlanta's most prominent addresses, featuring the Southeast's finest designers, and enjoy shopping in the gift shop and lunch in the café.

For more information, visit www.decoratorsshowhouse.org.

» Learn more about the TDP

The Verdi Requiem is a heartfelt religious expression imbued with dramatic vitality by a master composer of Italian opera. Often referred to as Verdi’s greatest opera, this wide-ranging masterpiece features the acclaimed ASO Chorus and a stellar cast of vocal soloists.

Bach's Fourth Suite, the summit of Baroque orchestral majesty, follows a French-style Overture with a collection of dances in various court styles. Bruckner’s cathedral-like symphonies are a favorite part of Mr. Runnicles's repertoire, and the towering Seventh brought the composer's greatest personal success.

BOTTI’S BACK! One, two, three sold-out shows last May were not enough! Soulful and charismatic trumpeter Chris Botti returns by popular demand with a brand-new show.

Drama sweeps the hall in a new, spellbinding interpretation of Prokofiev’s beloved musical tale, which will have kids on the edge of their seats. Three musician-actors and a conductor’s assistant must outwit a fearsome wolf that threatens orchestra and audience alike.

Far more than a tasty follow-up to his revered First Piano Concerto, Tchaikovsky’s Second boasts it own unique beauties, such as the warmly intimate duet for cello and violin in its middle movement. Three fairy tale miniatures by Liadov open this all-Russian concert,which ends with Prokofiev’s ravishing ballet music for Romeo and Juliet.

The ASO's superb horn section shines in Schumann's spectacular concert piece. Maestro Knussen also presents the ASO debut of his own set of songs based on poems of Walt Whitman and the towering Beethoven Fifth.

Highly anticipated premieres, courtesy of Mr. Spano and Atlanta School of Composers stalwarts Michael Gandolfi (The Garden of Cosmic Speculation) and Jennifer Higdon (blue cathedral),who has written a concerto for the cutting-edge chamber ensemble eighth blackbird. Mozart’s 39th Symphony, one third of a trilogy to be completed the following week, provides a glorious climax to a stimulating evening.

The melodic spark of Mozart's much-adored 40th and "Jupiter" Symphonies highlights the season finale, completing a valedictory arch with the 39th, heard the week before. Ms. O'Connor, an ASO favorite in Ainadamar and other works, "held the audience captive" (Chicago Tribune) in a 2008 performance of U.S. composer Peter Lieberson's five songs based on Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet Pablo Neruda's love sonnets.