Opening Night! Ticheli’s musical fireworks give way to Ravel’s musical portrait of Spain’s sunny spirit in Alborado del gracioso. The work dances with vivacious high spirits from beginning to end. Rachmaninoff’s 24 spectacular variations on a violin caprice by Paganini provide the perfect showcase for the dazzling technique of Claire Huangci, winner of the 2018 Geza Anda Competition. Best known is the lushly romantic 18th variation that was featured in the movie Somewhere in Time. Beethoven spoke of his Seventh Symphony fondly as “one of my best works.”

With Image Magnification (IMAG) on the big screen for a closer look at the guest artist, conductor and orchestra musicians!

Preview Talk at 7 p.m. with KUSC midday host Alan Chapman.