Featured Performers
- Los Angeles Philharmonic
- Anna Handler, conductor
- pianist TBD
Program
- John WILLIAMS: Piano Concerto No. 2
- MAHLER: Symphony No. 1, “Titan”
One of today’s most dynamic young conductors, Anna Handler leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic and a special guest pianist in a program that pairs John Williams’ cinematic brilliance with Mahler’s symphonic mastery.
The evening opens with John Williams’ Piano Concerto No. 2, a dazzling new work premiered at Tanglewood in July 2025. Brimming with Williams’ signature orchestral color and rhythmic vitality, the concerto is a thrilling showcase for both soloist and orchestra, bridging classical tradition and cinematic imagination.
Drawing on his lifelong love of the piano, Williams infuses the concerto with echoes of three jazz greats who shaped his musical imagination: Art Tatum, Bill Evans, and Oscar Peterson. Their influence can be felt throughout, from Tatum’s blazing virtuosity and Evans’ quiet introspection to Peterson’s effortless swing, all subtly woven into the concerto’s vibrant tapestry.