Extending our celebration of America at 250, From the New World brings together two of the most beloved works in orchestral music by composers whose lives were transformed by their time in the United States. Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, performed by Ian Duh in his Nittany Valley Symphony solo debut, moves from darkness into hard-won optimism, combining emotional depth with staggering virtuosity. Dvořák’s iconic “New World” Symphony captures the beauty and spirit of America, blending influences from African American spirituals and Native American musical traditions encountered during his stay in the United States into a work of sweeping lyricism and unforgettable melodies. Filled with soaring melodies and staggering orchestral power, From the New World invites audiences into an evening shaped by discovery, beauty, and wonder.

Program:

• Piano Concerto No. 2 — Sergei Rachmaninoff (Ian Duh, piano soloist)

Intermission

• Symphony No. 9 'From the New World' — Antonín Dvořák (all four movements)