Towering masterpieces dominate the opening concerts of the Reno Phil’s 58th season. Driven by rhythm and bold expression, the vibrant pulse of Mariachitlán by Juan Pablo Contreras moves with confidence and purpose—direct, energized, and alive. Audience favorite Jon Nakamatsu returns to the stage to tackle the ultimate challenge, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, one of the hardest-to-master works in the repertoire. After its premiere in New York City, a critic wrote that “it’s great length and extreme difficulties bar it from performances by any but pianists of exceptional technical powers.” Nakamatsu brings command and intensity to this iconic work, creating a gripping exchange between soloist and orchestra. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 stands at the fault line between Classical restraint and emerging Romantic force—bright, propulsive, and charged with forward motion. Beneath its radiant surface lies a restless, assertive energy that crackles with propulsion and tension, revealing Beethoven on the brink of redefining what a symphony could be.

ON THE PROGRAM

Juan Pablo Contreras Mariachitlán
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 2
Sergei Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3