Samuel Barber, The School for Scandal
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Concerto for Violin op. 80 in G Minor
   with Gabriela Lara, violin
Antonín Dvorák Symphony No. 9 op. 95 in E Minor “From the New World”

Pre-concert conversation with Laura begins at 6:30 p.m.

Sparkling wit and propulsion give way to soaring romantic expression, as featured violinist Gabriela Lara brings urgency and warmth to the Coleridge-Taylor violin concerto of striking melodic beauty and emotional depth. The spirit of clarity and cultural synthesis carries through the evening, culminating in the sweeping power of Antonín Dvořák’s New World Symphony. Written during his time in the US, this piece draws on the character of American musical traditions, charting a path for later composers.The overture, The School for Scandal, has endured as one of Barber’s most frequently performed orchestral works because it delivers immediate impact—brisk, clever, and brilliantly crafted—making it an ideal curtain-raiser that grabs the listener’s attention from the first bars.