PRESS RELEASE -- Join the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra for the finale of the 88^thconcert season featuring pieces by Mozart & Mahler.

The evening begins with Mozart’s concerto for two soloists with orchestra, Sinfonia Concertante, and will conclude with Mahler’s dramatic First Symphony, “Titan.”  PSO’s beloved Concertmaster Leonid Yanovskiy and Principal Violist Brian Brown will be featured on violin and viola respectively. This performance will take place on Saturday, April 26 at 8 p.m. in Pensacola’s Saenger Theatre.

Maestro Peter Rubardt’s pairing of Mozart & Mahler also showcases the expansion of the orchestra from the Classical Period into the late 19^th Century. Mahler’s aptly named “Titan” calls for a massive orchestral force of over 80 musicians – including eight French horns, quadruple the woodwinds, and a powerful percussion section – while the much more delicateSinfonia Concertante is scored for strings, with only a pair of horns and oboes.

There is certainly a special reverence for both Mozart & Mahler amongst musicians and audience members alike. Mozart’s transcendent melodies have long been praised as a pinnacle of human achievement, and the daunting nuances of Mahler stir a mixture of excitement and emotion that is stunning. “Ask any orchestral performer how they feel about Mahler, and their eyes will glaze over as they grasp for words,” says Music Director Peter Rubardt. “Playing Mahler is the high point of an orchestra’s collective artistic achievement and a Mahler symphony sets the bar for an ensemble’s musical, technical, and emotional capacity.”

There will be a special matinee dress rehearsal for the concert beginning at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the Palafox entrance of the Saenger Theatre. Then starting at 7 p.m., Dr. Larry Reed will present Classical Conversations. It’s the perfect opportunity to learn more about the music, as well as a chance to hear from the evening’s guest artist. The event is free with your concert ticket.

Tickets start at only $22 – available at pensacolasymphony.com, by phone at 850-435-2533, and the Saenger Theatre, at Palafox Place and Intendencia Street.

‘Mozart & Mahler’ is sponsored by Raymond James. Guest artists sponsored by Greenhut Construction. ‘Adopt a Musician’ event sponsored by AccuStaff. Video production made possible by the Bear Family Foundation. The official hotel sponsor of the Pensacola Symphony is Solé Inn and Suites. The official automobile sponsor of the Pensacola Symphony is Centennial Imports.

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