Dvořák’s tranquil Symphony No. 8 took shape following a summer holiday in the Bohemian countryside, its vibrant landscapes captured in a stream of Czech folk song and Dvořák’s lush melodies. Listen closely and you'll hear the sounds of summer — from fluttering birdsong to the echoes of a shepherd’s horn and a distant thunderstorm.
The charismatic cellist Tommy Mesa makes his DSO debut with the world premiere of Michael Abels’ Cello Concerto. Best known for his score to the Oscar®-winning film Get Out, Abels wields music to explore the need for serenity, courage and wisdom in turbulent times. Jazz-infused dances from Bernstein’s On the Town open the program, following the hilarious hijinks of sailors seeking adventure and romance in wartime New York.