JAMES EHNES PLAYS TCHAIKOVSKY, MAY 3, 2025 AT 7:30 PM, FIRSTONTARIO CONCERT HALL, 1 Summers Lane, Hamilton, ON
HAMILTON, April 22, 2025 – The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra is excited to announce the return of James Ehnes, Canadian-born international violin star and great friend of the orchestra, to perform Tchaikovsky’s magnificent Concerto for Violin and Orchestra at its 24-25 Season finale concert on May 3, 2025. Conducted by HPO Music Director, James S. Kahane, the program includes Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, named “Titan” for good reason, and the premiere of Hope is the Last Goddess by Massimo Guido, HPO 24-25 Composer Fellow.
“I’m looking forward to concluding my first season as Music Director of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra with the perfect program that showcases the strengths of the HPO and is filled with symbolism,” said James S. Kahane. “Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, “Titan”, is a first symphony of epic proportions. It was premiered when Mahler was exactly the same age as I am now. The work has since become an iconic part of the orchestral repertoire which has profoundly shaped and changed our understanding of what symphonies could be.
“I’m also incredibly excited to welcome legendary violinist James Ehnes in one of the most cherished concertos of the violin repertoire. Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto rarely leaves audiences indifferent. It is a unique blend of bittersweet, passion, melancholy and cheekiness that features some of the most intimate and touching moments in music.
“Last but not least,” Kahane added, “I look forward to continuing the HPO’s vital mission to promote and grow the music and culture of tomorrow with the premiere of Massimo Guida’s new composition, Hope is the Last Goddess. Commissioned by the HPO, this composition will continue to enrich the Canadian musical landscape.”
Don’t miss the HPO’s rousing season closer! Hear the consummate artistry of GRAMMY Award-winner James Ehnes in Tchaikovsky’s rhapsodic Violin Concerto, a work full of fire and ferocity for both the soloist and orchestra. Then, experience the expansive sonic dramas of Mahler’s First Symphony, as the HPO takes you from a depiction of nature’s awakening in spring, through rustic dances and animals’ ironic funeral procession for a hunter, to a final confrontation with “all the world’s sorrow” that ends in blazing glory. Toronto-based Italian-Canadian composer and HPO 24-25 Composer Fellow Massimo Guida sets the stage with the premiere of Hope is the Last Goddess, a work inspired by the power of hope, as well as the struggle to remain positive during times of strife.
Tickets to HPO’s James Ehnes Plays Tchaikovsky are on sale now. To learn more about this concert or to purchase tickets online, visit HPO.org.
ABOUT HAMILTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
For 140 years, the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra has presented orchestral music and education programs with a mission to enrich the wellbeing of the greater Hamilton region. The HPO presents dynamic orchestral performances ranging from standard classical repertoire to popular music and world premieres by living composers. As one of Canada’s leading professional orchestras, the HPO has proudly contributed to the shaping of Hamilton’s cultural landscape.
The HPO is deeply committed to inclusivity, diversity, equity and accessibility in all programs, including symphony concerts (in-person and online); the Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, administered by the HPO since 2021, and now the flagship music education program for young musicians in the region, closely linked to all community youth music education activities; 60+ community-based partner programs designed to meet the needs of diverse communities; music education performances, talks in schools and libraries; performances for children, youth and seniors; chamber music concerts in diverse neighbourhoods; lifelong learning and wellbeing events.
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