Oregon Symphony presents 'The Nature of Music' theme for 2024-25 season

Music meets natural world in Oregon Symphony ’s season-opening performance.

Led my Music Director David Danzmayr, Oregon Symphony opens its season, themed “The Nature of Music,” with Richard Strauss’ majestic “An Alpine Symphony,” a grand orchestral masterpiece with more than 100 musicians depicting the breathtaking beauty and challenges of an Alpine mountain — crashing waterfalls, misty meadows, furious storms.

Pianist Garrick Ohlsson joins the symphony on Chopin’s “Piano Concerto No. 1.”

The concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22 and 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23 at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Tickets: orsymphony.org .

Other highlights of the music-meets-nature season:

On April 11-14, 2025, the symphony will perform Beethoven's “Pastoral” Symphony, one in a series of Beethoven concerts, in which sounds of bird calls and babbling brooks are brought to life. This concert includes Creative Chair Gabriel Kahane’s world premiere composition “Talent & Phoenix,” which is a reflection on the 2020 Alameda fire and how our local communities can unite in the face of crisis.On June 6-9, 2025, principal cello and composer Nancy Ives explores humankind's relationship with nature and how music can inspire people to serve as better stewards of our environment. Ives merges music, poetry, and photography to tell the story of the majestic falls of Celilo, Oregon.The 2024-25 season culminates on June 14-16, 2025 with a final nod to the season’s theme. Mahler's “Third Symphony” is a powerful expression of the primal life force that animates every flower in the meadow, animal in the forest, and the divine love that forever unites nature and humankind.

“Our exploration of ‘The Nature of Music” is both about the music and how these works can inspire joy, awe, and a deeper connection to the world around us,” said Isaac Thompson, symphony president and CEO. “This season, we will explore Oregon’s majestic beauty and help people connect and reflect on their experiences with nature by bringing harmony, rhythm, and the power of nature to center stage.”

The symphony showcases an array of world-renowned guest artists and local talent this season. Among the highlights is the premiere of Andy Akiho’s “Nisei,” Oct. 5-7. Co-commissioned by the Oregon Symphony, this new concerto showcases cellist Jeffrey Zeigler and is composed by Portland’s own Grammy-nominated composer and percussionist Akiho.

The symphony will be performing an original piece, “Gia Dinh (Family),” Feb. 1-3, 2025 by Vietnamese American composer Oswald Huynh, also a Portland-based artist. Additional world-renowned guest artists joining the symphony this year include pianists Yefim Bronfman and Joyce Yang.

In addition, the diverse lineup includes works ranging from the timeless beauty of Brahms’ “Second Symphony” to the raw energy of Killer Mike performing with the symphony. There’ll be blockbuster movie scores performed live to movies projected on the big screen, concerts for young music lovers, much classical music and festive holiday performances including the 25th anniversary of “Gospel Christmas.”

For the complete lineup, see orsymphony.org .