Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra Unveils 2025-26 Season: “In Other Words”

SCHENECTADY (April 16) – The Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra is proud to announce its 2025–26 season, “In Other Words”— a sweeping exploration of music inspired by literary masters. Throughout the season, audiences will be transported by symphonic works that give voice to the words of Shakespeare, Langston Hughes, Walt Whitman, W.H. Auden, Bob Dylan, and more. Through this dynamic blend of storytelling and sound, the SSSO invites audiences to experience the emotional power of literature reimagined through orchestral performance.

The season kicks off with a free concert 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9 at Schenectady’s Central Park, as part of the Music Haven Concert Series. From there, the orchestra launches into a four-concert season that showcases both beloved classics and bold new works.

The first concert, “Fate & Turmoil,” takes place 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11 at Zankel Music Center and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12 at Proctors. Pianist Philip Fisher joins SSSO for Beethoven’s heroic “Egmont Overture,” Shakespeare’s dramatic “Macbeth,” and Bernstein’s jazz infused “The Age of Anxiety,” inspired by W. H. Auden’s epic poem.

Next, outside of the regular season, the beloved “Poinsettia Pops” returns, featuring favorite holiday classics and special guest artists. For two performances at Universal Preservation Hall, 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 at UPH and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, this annual tradition offers a joyful way to welcome the holidays, perfect for the whole family.

The new year brings mystery and deduction with “The Game is Afoot” 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25 at UPH. SSSO Artistic Director Glen Cortese presents his original work, “221B: A Sherlock Holmes Opera,” with libretto by Brian Clay Luedloff. Inspired by the legendary detective stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, this operatic adventure promises an unforgettable musical whodunit.

Third on the repertoire for the season, is “Voices of Freedom,” 3 p.m. Sunday, March 29 at Proctors. “Voices of Freedom” highlights the powerful intersection between literature and music. The program includes Debussy’s mystical “La Cathédrale Engloutie,” Schwantner’s stirring “New Morning for the World: Daybreak of Freedom,” which incorporates the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Corigliano’s “Mr. Tambourine Man,” a bold orchestral interpretation of lyrics by Bob Dylan.

The season concludes with “Poetic Echoes,” 7 p.m. Saturday, April 18 at UPH and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 19 at Proctors. Saratoga Voices joins SSSO for a literary-inspired finale, featuring Florence Price’s “Four Songs from the Weary Blues” based on Langston Hughes’ poetry, Vaughan Williams’ “Towards the Unknown Region” set to the words of Walt Whitman, and Mendelssohn’s beloved “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” capturing the timeless enchantment of Shakespeare’s classic play.

Subscriptions are on sale through the Box Office at Proctors in-person, via phone at (518) 346-6204 Tuesday-Saturday 12-6 p.m. or online by visiting sssony.org. Single-ticket on-sale dates will be announced later.

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