The Florida Orchestra will bring a night of vivid storytelling and sparkling piano music to the Mahaffey Theater on Saturday, October 17 at 7:30 p.m. The concert, titled Scheherazade, features Rimsky-Korsakov’s beloved orchestral suite, a work that captures the spirit of the legendary heroine who survives by weaving stories night after night. In this performance, the violin helps give voice to Scheherazade’s courage and imagination.
The evening also highlights an exciting TFO debut by pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, described as a rising star from one of classical music’s most remarkable families. She will perform Florence Price’s Piano Concerto in One Movement, an expressive work by the pioneering American composer whose music was rediscovered only in 2009 after being nearly forgotten for decades. The program also includes Karen LeFrak’s American Promise.
Audience members can arrive early for a free pre-concert conversation one hour before the performance, where the conductor and soloists will share insights about the music. Program notes by former Tampa Tribune critic Kurt Loft will also provide background on the evening’s selections. Families can take advantage of Classical Kids & Teens admission, with ages 5–18 attending free with a paying adult, subject to restrictions and advance ticketing.