The Florida Orchestra is set to launch its season with a bold performance of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture at the Mahaffey Theater on Friday, October 2, 2026. The crowd-pleasing program promises plenty of drama, with cannons, thunderous drums, and the full power of one of classical music’s most famous works. Music Director Michael Francis will lead the concert, which also features Rossini’s galloping William Tell Overture and Beethoven’s Wellington’s Victory.
The 1812 Overture will be performed with the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, adding even more force to the already explosive finale. The orchestra is offering just two chances to experience the program live: the opening-night performance on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and a matinee on Sunday, October 4 at 2:00 p.m., both at the Mahaffey Theater.
The concert also includes Christopher Theofanidis’ The Gift, featuring tenor Sean Panikkar, whose career has taken him from voice lessons inspired by a crush to the Metropolitan Opera, London’s Royal Opera House and the Salzburg Festival. Audience members can arrive early for a free pre-concert conversation and program notes that explore the music in more depth.