The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra will leave it all on stage as it closes the 2025-26 season with one of the largest number of musicians it has ever presented. (The program lists 45, plus music director Michael Repper and violin soloist Melissa White.)
This season finale series of concerts, May 7-10, entitled “Bold Voices, Eternal Resonance,” showcases the orchestra at its fullest, bringing together power, color and expressive depth in a program it describes as “both dynamic and unforgettable.”
The concert opens with Mikhail Glinka’s “Ruslan and Lyudmila Overture,” a brilliant and exhilarating curtain-raiser. Known for its breathtaking speed and sparkling energy, the overture has become a favorite in the orchestral repertoire, immediately drawing the listener in with its driving momentum and virtuosic writing.
The program also features the beloved “Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto” by He Zhanhao, performed by acclaimed violinist Melissa White. Often described as the “Romeo and Juliet of China,” the concerto tells a deeply emotional story of love, loss and transformation. The violin becomes the voice of the narrative, guiding the listener through each chapter with remarkable expressiveness.
White has captivated audiences around the world with her lyrical playing and vibrant artistry. A founding member of the Grammy-winning Harlem Quartet, she has performed with leading orchestras across the United States and internationally, bringing both technical brilliance and emotional depth to every performance.
At the heart of the program is Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9, a work that defies expectations. Written at the end of World War II, it was anticipated to be a grand and triumphant statement. Instead, Shostakovich delivered something entirely different, a symphony full of wit, energy, and surprising contrasts. Bright, playful passages give way to moments of striking intimacy, with individual instruments stepping forward in ways that feel almost like chamber music within a symphony.
