Atlas INTERSECTIONS 2025
Art and music, as a language – an expression of the human experience – take many different forms. It may be a way to express the traditions unique to a particular culture. Or it can tell a story through the sonic realizations of a composer’s emotions. It can highlight and celebrate that which is wonderful in our world. Or it can bring awareness and attention to that which is not. Music cannot be separated from human life; if anything, it exists because of it. Curated and led by CCS Assistant Conductor and South African Composer Johannes Visser, this program explores the intersections between music and life and features an original composition by Visser.
Bartok’s Romanian Folk Dances shimmer with life and excitement. It elevates and celebrates the dance traditions of the Transylvanian culture in which he grew up. Visser’s “A Winter’s Night in Palestine” considers life in Gaza in the broadly relatable context of winter but brings attention to the atrocious pain and suffering that has come from the short-sightedness of politics, divisiveness, and genuine evil. Walker’s Lyric for Strings is a moving expression of his feelings and emotions when he thinks about his grandmother’s life in slavery. Finally, Elgar’s Enigma Variations celebrates the beauty and joy that can come from human interaction and the profound impact that people can have on one another’s lives.
Reflect & Revive
Capital City Symphony continues its tradition of presenting outstanding young classical solo artists. We are thrilled to present Sophia Lin, 2024 winner of the Ylda Novik Memorial Concerto Competition on piano, performing Mozart, Concerto No. 20 in D minor.
As one young woman breathes new life into the future of music, we also remember powerful, promising young people who were robbed of breath far too soon. Composed in 1963, Margaret Bonds' "Montgomery Variations" is a set of orchestral meditations on the spiritual "I Want Jesus to Walk with Me." Each variation reflects on the Civil Rights Movement, from tributes to Martin Luther King Jr., to the pivotal citizens and events in Montgomery, Alabama, to the deep undercurrent of faith in the march for justice.
Heal
Capital City Symphony and Cantate Concert Choir unite in the final concert of their seasons. Together, they share a musical meditation on times of trouble in our human experience, and the path to healing. Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms” depicts life-affirming hope for brotherhood and peace, and Carlos Simon’s “Brea(d)th” provides a “moving, yearning, admonition for repair” in response to the death of George Floyd - almost five years earlier to the day. The powerful spoken words - performed with the ensembles by librettist and spoken word artist Marc Bamuthi Joseph - span centuries and genres, serving as a reflection on sacrifice, loss, strength, and a call to action for a better tomorrow.
Sing! Holiday Concerts - 5:30pm
The Capital City Symphony’s annual holiday concert fills the air with joyous music once again, featuring the dynamic sounds of The Capital Hearings! Bring your family & friends and sing along, as the orchestra takes you on a whirlwind tour of seasonal favorites.
Sing! Holiday Concerts - 3pm
The Capital City Symphony’s annual holiday concert fills the air with joyous music once again, featuring the dynamic sounds of The Capital Hearings! Bring your family & friends and sing along, as the orchestra takes you on a whirlwind tour of seasonal favorites.
Inspire: CCS Family Concert - 5pm (with Instrument Petting Zoo at 4:30pm)
Join CCS and celebrated performer Erika Rose for a symphonic adventure that will make you gasp with delight! The lively Brahms “Hungarian Dance No. 5” draws you in, then *join the performance* in Bruce Adolphe’s “Three Pieces for Kids In The Audience & Chamber Orchestra.” As the grand finale, Jessie Montgomery's "Because" (based on the beloved story by Mo Willems) tells the tale of a curious girl who discovers the magic of music through the power of community. As the stage comes to life with narration, colorful illustrations, and a full orchestra, the playful melodies of Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony mingle with Montgomery's original music as the girl moves from exploration to discovery.
Prepare to be surprised, laugh along – and maybe find your own inspiration at our Instrument Petting Zoo!
Inspire: CCS Family Concert - 2:30 pm (with Instrument Petting Zoo at 2pm)
Join CCS and celebrated performer Erika Rose for a symphonic adventure that will make you gasp with delight! The lively Brahms “Hungarian Dance No. 5” draws you in, then *join the performance* in Bruce Adolphe’s “Three Pieces for Kids In The Audience & Chamber Orchestra.” As the grand finale, Jessie Montgomery's "Because" (based on the beloved story by Mo Willems) tells the tale of a curious girl who discovers the magic of music through the power of community. As the stage comes to life with narration, colorful illustrations, and a full orchestra, the playful melodies of Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony mingle with Montgomery's original music as the girl moves from exploration to discovery.
Prepare to be surprised, laugh along – and maybe find your own inspiration at our Instrument Petting Zoo!
Renew
We bring in our season with an invitation to “stay put for a spell” in a musical evening of rebirth, rest, and resilience. Carlos Simon's "Breathe" sets the scene, inviting a moment of introspective calm. Centered, we move into the exuberance and abandon of Beethoven's Symphony No. 7. Finally, Stravinsky's Firebird Suite ignites the program's conclusion, depicting a renewal fueled with primal energy. Together, these pieces remind us to find peace within, awaken our sense of joy, and celebrate the transformative power of starting anew.