“Tales of Renewal and Life” with the Fort Collins Symphony on Saturday, March 1, 2025.
The Fort Collins Symphony (FCS), under the baton of Maestro Wes Kenney, invites you to enjoy an extraordinary evening of music with the third concert in its Signature Concert series, “Tales of Renewal and Life.” This in-person and live-streamed event will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, at the Fort Collins Lincoln Center.
The program starts with Louise Farrenc, a pioneering nineteenth-century composer, who broke societal barriers to achieve significant professional musical accomplishments. As the first full-time female professor at the Paris Conservatoire, she composed influential works, including her Symphony No. 3. This piece, blending Germanic orchestral tradition with French sensibility, was performed alongside Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, marking a significant achievement in her career.
In 1781, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart made a bold move to leave his old job to start a new life in Vienna. There he quickly gained fame for his operas, solo piano performances, and popular concerts. Among his notable works, Piano Concerto No. 20 was composed in 1785 and stands out for its dramatic and emotional music. Praised by his father Leopold for its excellence despite a tight composition deadline schedule, this concerto is one of only two that Mozart wrote in a minor key. It remains one of his most beloved pieces. The Fort Collins Symphony will be joined by Canadian pianist Sheng Cai to present this remarkable performance.
Closing the evening will be Sikuris, written by Chilean composer and conductor Carlos Zamora (b. 1968). He drew inspiration from the unique musical stylings of the indigenous Atacameños peoples of San Pedro de Atacama, a town set on an arid high plateau in Chile’s northeastern mountains. The composition highlights the traditional Andean panpipe and drum music played by sikuri bands at regional festivals. Zamora’s Sikuris was originally composed for a 1999 competition and later arranged for various ensembles.
Featured Artist:
Sheng Cai – Canadian pianist Sheng Cai has captivated audiences across four continents with his stunning performances of major keyboard works. Praised for his technical brilliance and vibrant interpretations, Sheng made his debut with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at fifteen and has since performed with numerous orchestras worldwide. He studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, the Juilliard School’s pre-college division in New York, and earned a Bachelor of Music Degree from The New England Conservatory in Boston, under the mentorship of renowned pianists Anton Kuerti, Gary Graffman, and Russell Sherman.
Tickets/Details:
- When: Saturday, March 1, 2025, 7:30 p.m. Mountain Time
- Where: The Fort Collins Lincoln Center: 417 West Magnolia Street, Fort Collins, CO 80521, and via live-stream
- What: In-person and via live-stream.
- Cost: Adult: $25-70, Student/Child: $12, Livestream: $25 per device.*
Tickets and more information: FCSymphony.org/Discovery or by calling the Lincoln Center Box Office at 970.221.6730 ( 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday – Saturday) or LCTix.com.
*Please Note – Ticket prices do not include Lincoln Center fees.
Week-of-Concert Events
Composer Talk: Join CSU professor Dr. K. Dawn Grapes for an informative and entertaining lecture about the concert’s featured composers. Sponsored by the Friends of the Symphony. Light refreshments provided.
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Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2025
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Time: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
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Venue: Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St, Fort Collins, CO 80524
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Admission: Free
Open Rehearsal: Learn firsthand what it takes for an orchestra to bring live music to the stage.
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Date: Thursday, February 27, 2025
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Time: 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
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Venue: Lincoln Center, 417 W Magnolia St, Fort Collins, CO 80521
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Admission: Free
Maestro’s Musings Pre-Concert Lecture: Ticket holders (in-person and via livestream) are invited to join Maestro Wes Kenney for a pre-concert lecture in the concert hall.
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Date: Saturday, March 1, 2025
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Time: 6:30 – 7:00 p.m.
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Venue: Lincoln Center, 417 W Magnolia St, Fort Collins, CO 80521
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Admission: Included with ticket purchase
