Conductor, Guest Artists, Soloists:
Sameer Patel, conductor

Program:
Biber – Battalia
Haihui Zhang – 2026-2027 Nee Commission World Premiere
Shostakovich – Symphony No. 11, “The Year 1905”

From the vividly imaginative world of Biber’s Battalia—a striking 1673 portrait of soldiers’ lives that experiments boldly with texture and polytonality—to a compelling new voice in Haihui Zhang’s world premiere, this program draws a clear line across centuries of musical narrative and historical reflection.
Biber’s flair for musical drama and innovative use of sound finds a natural counterpart in Shostakovich’s sweeping vision, both composers pushing the boundaries of how music can depict human conflict. The journey culminates in Symphony No. 11, “The Year 1905,” a gripping masterpiece of program music that captures the tragedy, unrest, and collective memory of the Russian Revolution.