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Alisa Weilerstein, cello Project Creator: Alisa Weilerstein Director: Elkhanah Pulitzer Set/Lighting Designer: Seth Reiser Costume Designer: Molly Irelan Artistic Producer/Advisor: Hanako Yamaguchi Composers featured in this edition of the FRAGMENTS Series include Gabriela Lena Frank, Gabriella Smith, Gerard McBurney, Johann Sebastian Bach, Mathilde Wantenaar and Osvaldo Golijov. Please note: The San Diego Symphony Orchestra does not appear on this Jacobs Music Center Special Presentation. Alisa Weilerstein on Facebook / Instagram

Sir Mark Elder, conductor PROKOFIEV: Symphony No. 7 in C-sharp minor, Op. 131 DVORÁK: "The Wood Dove," Op. 110 JANÁCEK: "Taras Bulba;" Rhapsody after Gogol Sir Mark Elder, one of Britain’s most distinguished conductors, leads a dramatic program pairing Prokofiev’s luminous final symphony with powerful Czech tone poems by Dvorák and Janácek. Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 7, written in 1952 for Soviet Radio, was conceived for young audiences yet reveals profound nostalgia and tenderness. Its graceful melodies and transparent textures recall the innocence of Peter and the Wolf, reframed through the wisdom of age. Closing with a quiet, deeply moving farewell, the symphony stands as Prokofiev’s last masterpiece – a poetic reflection on childhood and memory. Dvorák’s "The Wood Dove" tells a haunting story of guilt and redemption: a woman who poisons her husband is tormented by the cooing of a dove on his grave until she meets her tragic fate. Dvorák’s love of birds and the Bohemian countryside infuses the work with striking authenticity and emotional depth. Janácek’s Taras "Bulba," based on Gogol’s epic tale of heroism and sacrifice, unfolds as a vivid orchestral drama. Propelled by Janácek’s unmistakable rhythmic energy, its three scenes – betrayal, execution, and prophecy – paint a searing portrait of courage and loss. Together, these works reveal Slavic storytelling in all its power – lyrical, dramatic, and deeply human. San Diego Symphony on Facebook / Instagram

Steve Hackman, conductor and creator San Diego Symphony Orchestra Steve Hackman returns to the Jacobs Music Center with a new orchestral fusion: SYMPHONYFUSE: Beethoven X Coldplay. The work merges two musical giants who explore universal and humanist themes, asking the question: Would Beethoven have found meaning in the music of Coldplay? That notion, perhaps odd-sounding at first, becomes much more compelling when considering the state of the 33-year-old Beethoven as he composed the Eroica: desperate to prove himself as Europe's preeminent composer, loving but not being loved in return, and despairing as he realized his hearing would someday leave him completely. The program tells this story by transforming the Eroica into a song cycle/oratorio, weaving Coldplay's melodies and lyrics into Beethoven's original score and pairing them based on context and meaning. Three world-class vocalists join the full orchestra, while composer-conductor Steve Hackman alternates between conducting and playing piano. Many of Coldplay's best-known songs are interpolated, including "Yellow," "Viva la Vida," "Clocks" and "The Scientist." Steve Hackman on Facebook / Instagram

Gilbert Castellanos, trumpet Brian Levy, tenor saxophone Sam Hirsh, piano Danton Boller, bass Willie Jones III, drumset Pre-show performance by the Young Lions Jazz Conservatory The 2026-27 Jazz @ The Jacobs season continues with an homage to trumpet player, Lee Morgan’s 1962 album, "The Sidewinder." Gilbert Castellanos and a quintet of top-notch players bring the album to life, including the celebrated title track, "Boy, What a Night" and "Hocus-Pocus". Please note: The San Diego Symphony Orchestra does not appear on this Jazz @ The Jacobs concert.

Saturday, 10 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. In this cozy introduction to woodwind instruments, young children will hear the characters of Peter and the Wolf come to life through the flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon and French horn. With gentle narration, friendly pacing, and a sensory-friendly environment, little listeners are free to move, imagine and engage as they wish. A beautifully calm and creative first experience with musical storytelling. These 30-minute interactive concerts are sensory-friendly and designed with little ones in mind. Sing-alongs, rhymes, dances and musical games will engage your child while introducing them to the instruments of the orchestra. San Diego Symphony on Facebook / Instagram

The Midtown Men, founded by four seasoned Broadway performers – Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and J. Robert Spencer – embody the essence of a bygone era while infusing it with contemporary flair. Brought together in the Original Broadway Cast of the Tony Award-winning musical "Jersey Boys," this dynamic quartet captivates audiences with their harmonious blend of voices, charismatic stage presence, and a repertoire that seamlessly weaves together iconic hits from the 1960s. With a shared passion for preserving the legacy of classic rock and pop, The Midtown Men bring infectious energy to their performances, delivering a nostalgic journey through time that transcends generations and leaves an indelible mark on the hearts of music lovers everywhere! Please note: The San Diego Symphony Orchestra does not appear on this Jacobs Music Center Special Presentation. The Midtown Men on Facebook / Instagram

Friday, 11 a.m. Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Rafael Payare, conductor Ricardo Morales, clarinet ESTÉVEZ: "Midday on the Plains" (Mediodía en el llano) SALONEN: "kínema" BERNSTEIN: Symphonic Dances from "West Side Story" RACHMANINOFF: "Symphonic Dances," Op. 45 This program unites a beloved Venezuelan tone poem with three works by composer conductors who shaped modern music. Antonio Estévez’s "Mediodía en el llano" (1942) captures the heat and stillness of Venezuela’s central plains, Los Llanos. Originally part of a three movement suite portraying dawn, midday, and evening, it evokes the bright intensity of noon on the expansive grasslands, suffused with lyrical beauty and local color. Finnish composer Esa Pekka Salonen’s "kinema," written in 2021, is a gentle clarinet concerto drawn from film music created during the pandemic. Its five movements – Dawn, Theme and Variations, Pérotin Dream, J.D. in memoriam, and Return – move from shimmering light to reflective lyricism and renewal. Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from "West Side Story" transforms his landmark Broadway score into a symphonic suite that distills the story’s passion, violence, and reconciliation, brimming with rhythm and theatrical brilliance. Rachmaninoff’s "Symphonic Dances" (1940), his final composition, reflects on a lifetime of memory and exile. Written in America yet steeped in nostalgia for Russia, its sweeping melodies and radiant conclusion – echoing his "All Night Vespers" – proclaim a final “Hallelujah.” Together, these four works create a journey across lands and eras, celebrating color, movement, and the enduring human voice in music. San Diego Symphony on Facebook / Instagram

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 2 p.m. Rafael Payare, conductor Joshua Brown, violin GABRIELA ORTIZ: "Kauyumari" SHOSTAKOVICH: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 99 BARTÓK: Suite from "The Miraculous Mandarin," Op. 19 STRAVINSKY: "The Firebird Suite" (1919 version) Mexico, Russia, and Hungary converge in a dazzling celebration of rhythm, color, and movement. Gabriela Ortiz’s "Kauyumari" (2021), written for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, opens the program with explosive dance rhythms and luminous orchestral color. The title – “Blue Deer” in the Huichol language – refers to a visionary figure in that Indigenous culture, a symbol of hope and healing. Ortiz adapts a traditional Huichol melody into a joyful, propulsive orchestral showpiece. Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1, composed under Stalin’s terror yet premiered only after his death, moves from shadowy introspection to incandescent virtuosity. Written for the legendary David Oistrakh, it fuses anguish, irony, and klezmer tinged exuberance in one of the century’s great concertos. Bartók’s Suite from "The Miraculous Mandarin" bristles with raw power and sensuality. A modern day fable of violence and compassion, it stunned early audiences with its intensity and remains one of Bartók’s most daring scores. Stravinsky’s "Firebird Suite" crowns the evening with radiant, fairy tale splendor. Written for Diaghilev’s "Ballets Russes," it brims with shimmering orchestral colors and the triumph of light over darkness – music that heralded a new age of sound. San Diego Symphony on Facebook / Instagram

Chad Goodman, conductor San Diego Symphony Orchestra NIKOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: “Flight of the Bumblebee” from 1"Tale of the Tsar Saltan" GIOACHINO ROSSINI: Overture to "William Tell" FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN: "Allegro spiritoso" from Symphony No. 83 in G minor, "The Hen" DMITRI KABALEVSKY: "Galop" from "The Comedians," Op. 26 FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN: "Vivace" from Symphony No. 82 in C Major, "The Bear" CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS: "Carnival of the Animals" Get ready for a musical safari! From buzzing bumblebees and clucking hens to proud lions, hopping kangaroos, and graceful swans, the San Diego Symphony brings the animal kingdom to life through color, rhythm, and imagination. Families will hear how music paints pictures – how strings can flutter like wings, how pianos can trot like donkeys, and how melodies can dive, leap, strut, and soar. Join us for hands-on activities, animal-themed crafts, and a joyful orchestra adventure where every creature has a musical voice, and every family belongs in the wonder of live music. San Diego Symphony on Facebook / Instagram

Friday, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 2 p.m. Edward Gardner, conductor Sasha Cooke, mezzo-soprano MENDELSSOHN: "Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage," Op. 27 TCHAIKOVSKY: "The Tempest Fantasy-Overture," Op. 18 RAVEL: "Shéhérazade" DEBUSSY: "La mer" British conductor Edward Gardner leads a vivid, ocean themed program exploring humanity’s eternal fascination with the sea – its stillness, storms, and mystery. Mendelssohn’s youthful concert overture "Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage," inspired by Goethe’s poem, captures the peril of a ship becalmed with no wind to move it – an image of both physical and spiritual stagnation. A breath of air stirs, the sails fill, and the music surges with joyful momentum toward open waters. Tchaikovsky’s "The Tempest," after Shakespeare, transforms Prospero’s magical island into a world of tempest and tenderness, combining tempestuous storms with luminous love music for Miranda and Ferdinand before peace is restored. Ravel’s sumptuous "Shéhérazade," based on orientalist poems, evokes exotic voyages and sensual dreamscapes through glowing orchestral color and the voice’s seductive allure. Debussy’s "La mer," perhaps the most famous musical portrait of the sea, closes the program. Its three movements – "From Dawn to Noon on the Sea," "Play of the Waves," and "Dialogue of the Wind and the Sea" – trace the ocean’s transformations from calm to tempest and serenity again. For Debussy, the sea becomes both natural and human – vast, unpredictable, and deeply emotional. San Diego Symphony on Facebook / Instagram