Features Igor Stravinsky’s dramatic ballet score for The Firebird brought to life by the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance ensemble alongside a John Williams Horn Concerto.

Stravinsky’s The Firebird plunges listeners into a vivid world of Russian folklore, stitching together fairy tales, magic, and danger into one of the most electrifying scores of the 20^th century. The ballet’s myth-like storyline features a magical Firebird, who helps a young prince rescue a coterie of princesses from Kashchey, an evil sorcerer. Stravinsky’s brilliant orchestrations paint a colorful musical portrait that will be brought to life onstage alongside Cleo Parker Robinson Dance.

The spotlight turns to the Colorado Symphony’s own Principal Horn Michael Thornton in John Williams’ Horn Concerto. Williams himself described the horn as an instrument that "stirs memories of powerful things, of noble and beautiful things," whose very sound "invites us to dream backward to ancient time." His concerto draws on that deeply evocative timbre, crafting five movements that explore a sweeping range of moods — from the distant bells of "Angelus," through the wild energy of "The Hunt," to the quiet introspection of "Nocturne." In Thornton’s hands, audiences will hear not just technical brilliance but a voice that evokes memory and myth. The program opens with Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro, a delightful showcase for string orchestra that sets the stage for an evening of musical drama led by guest conductor Michael Francis.