Nicholas Hersh, Conductor

Carl Nielsen Helios Overture
Wolfgang Mozart Symphony No. 41 (Jupiter)
Gustav Holst The Planets

Embark on a voyage through space and time with music that explores the vast expanse of our Solar System. Beginning at the heart of it all, Carl Nielsen’s Helios Overture portrays the light of our home star: a sublime sunrise over the ocean. The final symphony of one of history’s most enduring musicians, W.A. Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 is at once so elegant and powerful that it was compared to Jupiter, king of the heavens. Finally, while Gustav Holst took inspiration for his symphonic suite The Planets from astrological, not astronomical, sources, his vivid music transforms the orchestra into a spacecraft on a billions-mile journey from fleet Mercury to lonely Neptune at the very fringe of our place in space.

Learn More About the Music

Concert Notes Heavenly

We have another enlightening set of videos from Sam Tripp that dive into the programming of Heavenly to uncover the significance behind each piece. Use these materials as a guide prior to the concert to gain a deeper understanding of the intention behind the music you will hear.

Heavenly! will transport us to outer space as we contemplate its many wonders. We will begin with Nielsen's Helios Overture set to imagery that journeys from our expansive Solar System back down to Earth, then will take in Mozart's astounding Symphony No. 41, before concluding with Holst's The Planets amidst incredible footage courtesy of NASA and additional scientific agencies.

Guiding this experience is guest conductor, Nicholas Hersh with our magnificent Symphony Orchestra taking the stage as the stars of the show. You can read more about Maestro Hersh through his bio on our website.

Date and Time: Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 2:30 p.m.

Venue: Springfield Symphony Hall, 34 Court Street, Springfield, MA 01103

Purchase tickets online or by contacting our Box Office at [email protected] / 413-733-2291.