Fernanda Lastra, conductor
Avery Gagliano, piano

BERLIOZ  Roman Carnival Overture
SAINT-SAËNS  Piano Concerto No. 5, “Egyptian”
MENDELSSOHN  Symphony No. 4, “Italian”

Under the baton of Fernanda Lastra, this concert opens with Berlioz’s Roman Carnival, a musical depiction of Italy’s festive spirit. The evening continues with Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 5, featuring the prodigiously talented Avery Gagliano, with a performance expected to weave a narrative of adventure and enchantment, echoing the composer’s impressions of Egypt. Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4, “Italian,” concludes the program, a vibrant and joyful celebration of Italy’s landscapes, light, and color. This symphony, one of Mendelssohn’s most beloved works, captures the composer’s own Italian journey’s essence, making for an exhilarating conclusion to an evening of music inspired by travel and discovery.