Gustav Mahler Born July 7, 1860 in Kalischt, Bohemia | Died May 18, 1911 in Vienna, Austria Symphony No. 9 Approximate duration 81 minutes World premiere June 26, 1912 in Vienna, Austria. Mahler’s first instrument was accordion—he was three At age 4, he discovered a piano in his grandparents’ attic and was soon performing He wrote little chamber music, focusing instead … Read More
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) 3 Dance Variations from Fancy Free Ballet Approximate duration 8 minutes World premiere for the ballet: 18 April 1944 in New York City, New York; For the 3 Dance Episodes February 3 1946 Bernstein’s career was skyrocketing when Fancy Free premiered The ballet’s music was later re-worked into Bernstein’s On the Town He later became the first … Read More
Guillaume Connesson Born in 1970 in Boulogne-Billancourt, France Maslenitsa (World Premiere February 9, 2012; Bordeaux, France; Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine; and Pau, France; Orchestra de Pau Pays de Béarn) Connesson is one of France’s most frequently performed composers worldwide He draws on minimalism, disco, funk, and cinema style in his compositions Maslenitsa is a concert overture: a vibrant curtain-raiser but … Read More
Fate Now Conquers Carlos Simon Born 1986 in Washington D.C Approximate duration 5 minutes World premiere: March 26-29, 2020 in Philadelphia Turning 40 this year, Carlos Simon has already amassed an impressive resume He was a Sundance Composer Fellow in 2018 at historic Skywalker Ranch In 2024 the Boston Symphony named him its inaugural Composer Chair Social justice is an … Read More
Program Notes by Laurie Shulman © 2026. Reproduction of all or part of these notes without explicit written permission from the Jacksonville Symphony is strictly prohibited. Trances (2022) Tarik O’Regan Born 1978 in Croydon, South London, UK · Currently residing in San Francisco Approximate duration 20 minutes World premiere: June 20, 2022 in Jacksonville, FL Tarik O’Regan comes … Read More
Program Notes by Laurie Shulman © 2026. Reproduction of all or part of these notes without explicit written permission from the Jacksonville Symphony is strictly prohibited. Prelude to Die Meistersinger Richard Wagner Born May 22, 1813 in Leipzig, Germany · Died February 13, 1883 in Venice, Italy 9 minutes World premiere: June 21, 1868 in Munich The earliest prose sketches … Read More
Barber & Mendelssohn Program notes Program Notes by Laurie Shulman © 2026. Reproduction of all or part of these notes without explicit written permission from the Jacksonville Symphony is strictly prohibited. Toward the Unknown Region (1904-06) Ralph Vaughan Williams Born October 12, 1872 in Down Ampney, Gloucestershire, England · Died August 26, 1958 in London 14 minutes World premiere … Read More
Mozart & More: Concertos for Two Pianos Program notes Program Notes by Laurie Shulman © 2026. Reproduction of all or part of these notes without explicit written permission from the Jacksonville Symphony is strictly prohibited. Overture to Béatrice et Bénédict Hector Berlioz Born December 11, 1803 in La-Côte-Saint-André, Isère, France Died March 8, 1869 in Paris If the names … Read More
Romeo and Juliet: Tchaikovsky & Bernstein Program notes Program Notes by Laurie Shulman © 2025. Reproduction of all or part of these notes without explicit written permission from the Jacksonville Symphony is strictly prohibited. Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet Nino Rota (1911-1979) World premiere: Zeffirelli’s film was released on March 4, 1968 in London Rota was like an Italian … Read More
Bruckner’s Majestic Eighth Program notes Program Notes by Laurie Shulman © 2025. Reproduction of all or part of these notes without explicit written permission from the Jacksonville Symphony is strictly prohibited. Symphony No. 8 in C minor (1890 revised version) Anton Bruckner Born September 4, 1824 in Ansfelden, Austria | Died October 11, 1896 in Vienna World premiere December 18, 1892 … Read More
