Jonathon Heyward celebrates his arrival as Music Director with vibrant studies of the United States, culminating with Dvořák’s epic Ninth Symphony (“From the New World”) that draws on spirituals and indigenous melodies. Gershwin’s feisty concerto brings the excitement of the Jazz Age into the concert hall, featuring the “brilliant and stylish pianist” Jean-Yves Thibaudet whose interpretation is “alive with incisive rhythms, Ravelian colorings, telling intricacy, and refreshingly cool restraint” (The New York Times). Baltimore’s own James Lee III taps into Black and Native traditions in his evocative answer to Dvořák’s American vision.

Artists
Jonathon Heyward, conductor 
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano 

Repertoire
JAMES LEE III Amer’ican 
GERSHWIN Piano Concerto in F 
ELGAR "Nimrod" from Variations on an Original Theme, "Enigma Variations"
DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9, “From the New World” 

THURSDAY DATE NIGHT | Plan a night out to see the BSO perform. Enjoy drink specials, live music, and food from local vendors Emmanuella's Quizine and AppleCore's Bake Shoppe.
INSIDE THE CLASSICS | Enhance your understanding of the concert program at this pre-concert lecture by a special guest presenter.
BSO PRELUDES | SAT, SEP 30, 7 PM STRATHMORE Members, Subscribers, and BSO Passport holders: reserve your space for our first Ovation Series event — a moderated discussion and Q&A with composer, James Lee III.
AFTERWORDS WITH HEYWARD | Stay in the hall post-concert to hear Jonathon and a BSO musician reflect on the concert performance and answer audience questions.
AFTERNOON TEA WITH JONATHON HEYWARD | WED, OCT 4, 12 PM ZOOM Enjoy a virtual cuppa with Jonathon Heyward! Gather on Zoom, sip tea from locally owned tea shops, and get to know our new Music Director.

The appearance of Jean-Yves Thibaudet is made possible through the major support of the Bozzuto Family Distinguished Guest Pianist Fund

Supporting Sponsor and Official Imaging Partner of the BSO