Rising star of the cello, Jonathan Swensen, will take center stage with Schumann’s Cello Concerto in A Minor, a work as enigmatic as it is expressive. Unlike traditional concertos, Schumann seamlessly weaves its three movements into a continuous flow, creating a dreamlike narrative. The opening unfolds with a transcendent, almost improvisatory quality, leading into a second movement of profound lyricism.

Schubert’s final completed symphony, the monumental Symphony No. 9 in C Major, aptly nicknamed “The Great,” stands as a testament to his admiration for Beethoven. Unusually expansive for its time, this symphony unfolds over an hour, brimming with rhythmic vitality and sweeping melodic lines. Midway through, Schubert pays homage to his predecessor, subtly echoing themes from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.