Neighbor News
Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra Continues 60th Anniversary Season
ENCHANTMENT & ENLIGHTENMENT featuring pianist Michelle Cann
The Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra (RSO) continues its 60th anniversary season Saturday, December 7, 2025 with a concert titled ENCHANTMENT & ENLIGHTENMENT. The performance features the outstanding professional musicians of the RSO under the direction of conductor Eric Mahl, in concert with highly acclaimed pianist Michelle Cann. The program includes two marvelous pieces of music from iconic composers from two different centuries.
The concert opens with the beautiful and powerful Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor” by Ludwig van Beethoven, featuring pianist Michelle Cann. Called “A pianist of sterling artistry” by Gramophone and “. . . technically fearless, with a bold attack and an enormous, rich sound . . .” by La Scena Musicale, Cann makes her first appearance with the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra following recent engagements with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Lost Angeles Philharmonic and the National Symphony.
“Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 is an incredible piece of music and we are extremely excited to have Michelle Cann with us to perform it with the RSO!” says RSO Executive Director Laurie Kenagy. “Our entire 60th anniversary season is a celebration of an amazing history of presenting great music and recognition of the value of the performing arts in our community, and presenting a soloist of Michelle’s quality is part of the RSO’s legacy.”
The second half of the concert program features Jean Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2. Sibelius himself said, "My second symphony is a confession of the soul." Written following the successful premiere of his popular Finlandia, and after spending time away from home in a mountain villa in Italy, Finnish composer Sulho Ranta said, “There is something about this music . . . that leads us to ecstasy; almost like a shaman with his magic drum.” Written in 1901, Symphony No. 2 has also been called “one of the few symphonic creations of the time that points in the same direction as Beethoven’s symphonies.”
The concert will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 7:30 PM at Richardson Auditorium at Ridgefield High School (700 North Salem Road, Ridgefield). Doors will open at 6:00 PM, and there will be a pre-concert talk in the auditorium at 6:30 PM with conductor Eric Mahl, which is open to all ticket holders.
Tickets can be purchased by calling the RSO box office at 203.438.3880 or online at https://ci.ovationtix.com/35696/production/1199418?performanceId=11461982
Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra is a professional symphony orchestra with the mission to enrich the cultural lives of the citizens of Ridgefield and surrounding communities by presenting musical performances of the highest artistic quality. The RSO also strives to increase the appreciation for music through active community involvement and innovative educational programs.
