The violin is front-and-center as we take the audience on a journey through famous legends with this season opening concert. Violinist Niccoli Paganani was often accused of selling his soul to the devil for his prodigious talents, though he claims a guardian angel was responsible for his virtuosic playing. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Sergei Rachmaninoff for piano and orchestra is 24 variations on a famous and challenging violin solo. The concert also features Rimsky-Korsakov’s most popular work, Scheherazade. Based on the story One Thousand and One Nights, the piece creates a colorful kaleidoscope of fairy-tale images with varying moods that weave individual stories and moments into a symphonic masterpiece. Our very own Ruth Lenz will represent the character of Scheherazade on solo violin, crafting fantastical tale after tale.