South Florida Symphony Orchestra Presents Saint-Saëns Featuring Tao Lin and Schubert Masterworks

Saint-Saëns and Schubert Masterworks will launch South Florida Symphony Orchestra’s (SFSO) 26th season of artistic excellence at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 8, at The Parker in Fort Lauderdale (707 NE 8th Street). Led by Music Director Sebrina María Alfonso, SFSO will premiere its stirring, exotic performance of Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 5, Op. 103, “Egyptian” featuring guest artist Tao Lin on piano and Schubert’s majestic Symphony No. 9, C Major, D. 944, \”The Great.\”

Known as the “Egyptian,” Camille Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 5 is an aural voyage down the Nile, ripe with the exotic sounds of the Middle East. Written in 1896, 20 years after his prior piano concerto, and subsequently his last, this concerto was nicknamed \”The Egyptian\” for two reasons. The piece was composed in the temple town of Luxor while on one of his frequent winter vacations to Egypt, and it is among his most fascinating, displaying influences from Javanese and Spanish as well as Middle eastern music. Saint-Saëns said that the piece represented a sea voyage.

Performing Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 5, Op. 103, “Egyptian” is Chinese American concert pianist and Steinway Artist Tao Lin. As a soloist, he has performed with South Florida Symphony, as well as other orchestras including Moscow Chamber, Winnipeg Symphony, Atlantic Classical, and Knoxville Civic. As a recitalist, he has appeared at Kennedy Center, National Gallery of Art, Rockefeller University, Chautauqua Institute, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Minnesota Orchestra Hall, Izumi Hall (Osaka, Japan), and Edvard Grieg Museum in Norway. He has also appeared in concerts with Aspen Trio, Miami, Bergonzi, Alcon, Ying, Shanghai, and Rosalyra String Quartets, as well as distinguished musicians. A frequent pianist and lecturer at the Music Festival of the Hamptons, Mainly Mozart Festival, Music Mountain Chamber Music Festival, Arts Rolla Festival, Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival, and Festival Miami, Lin is currently a visiting professor at Shanghai Normal University and a piano faculty at Bowdoin International Music Festival.

Franz Schubert’s final symphony was originally called “The Great C” to distinguish it from his Symphony No. 6. Today it’s referred to simply as “The Great” because of its awesome grandeur. Often cited as the first of the big Romantic symphonies, 9th Symphony is an extended essay which is confident, outgoing, discursive and expansive in nature – rather more public than personal. Sadly, Schubert never heard his \”Great\” symphony. Its first public professional performance did not take place until a decade after his death. Listen carefully and you’ll find that in Schubert’s finale, he quotes Beethoven\’s Ninth Symphony\’s \”Ode to Joy\” theme to both acknowledge his debt to Beethoven and daringly compete with his reputation. The unexpected, subtle placement of the quotation within the middle of the movement adds a dream-like quality to the composition.

Following its highly acclaimed 25th anniversary season, including sold-out shows and a celebrated performance accompanying award-winning alt-rock indie vocalist Natalie Merchant, South Florida’s largest symphonic orchestra is continuing its musical journey of excellence inspiring audiences of all ages.

Season subscriptions and single show tickets beginning at just $15 are on sale, now, for the Broward Season at The Parker and Broward Center. Tickets may be purchased by visiting https://southfloridasymphony.org/2023-24-season/ or by calling (954) 522-8445. Subscribers receive a 20% discount off single ticket prices and have access to the best seats in the house. Five-concert packages in Fort Lauderdale are available from $111. Flexible ticket packages are also available.

For additional information, visit southfloridasymphony.org, call (954) 522-8445 or email info@southfloridasymphony.org.