MasterWorks IV: Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances
November 21, 2026 3:00 PM –5:00 PM
Overview
“Connected through rhythmic grooves and dance styles,” the music of our fourth MasterWorks program is a perfect introduction for families and first-time listeners of live orchestral music. Music director finalist Austin Chanu leads this whimsical and electrifying concert of engaging works from the orchestral canon.
Clarice Assad’s Brazilian Fanfare opens the concert with a vibrant blend of some of the most widely recognized Brazilian rhythms, including the samba from Rio de Janeiro and the chorinho from São Paulo. It also features a slower waltz, calling back to the dance’s enormous popularity and its place in early Brazilian musical traditions. The orchestra is delighted to welcome Assad herself for this performance.
Written during a period of constant travel, Sergei Prokofiev has said in interviews about his Violin Concerto No. 2 that “[this] concerto shows the kind of nomadic concert-tour life I led then.” Performed by Juliette Kang, the concerto reflects a mix of influences, from lyrical, almost classical lines to sharper, more percussive passages, with a finale shaped by unmistakable Spanish character.
Similar to Brazilian Fanfare, Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances draws on a range of dance styles, restyling familiar forms like the march and waltz, along with the more abstract, such as a dance for the dead. Quirky and fun (one of the few orchestral works to include saxophone!), this magnificent work is sure to delight all audiences.
PROGRAM
Brazilian Fanfare - Clarice Assad
Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63 - Sergei Prokofiev
Intermission
Symphonic Dances - Sergei Rachmaninoff
TICKETS
$20 / $35 / $45 / $60 / $70
Includes fees. Additional $2 to mail tickets.
Family Friendly Concert – Adults with accompanying children: 50% off
College Students (18+): FREE
Children 17 and under: FREE
Veterans, First Responders, Healthcare Workers, & Educators: 20% off
SNAP & Medicaid Recipients: 20% off
Groups of 10 or more: 20% off
Subscribers: additional tickets 20% off
*Must call to redeem discounted tickets
*Discounts do not apply to Economy section
Related Partners
Canton Symphony Orchestra
2331 17th St. NW Canton, Ohio 44708 (330) 452-2094 Website
Zimmermann Symphony Center and Umstattd Performing Arts Hall
2331 17th Street NW Canton, Ohio 44708 (330) 452-2094 Website