The Planets

Subscriptions on sale now! Stilian Kirov, conductor Vaughan Williams’ short piece for double string orchestra and string quartet is a somber meditation on a tune that British Renaissance composer Thomas Tallis (1505-1585) wrote for an early Anglican hymnal. Sacred music was a focus throughout Vaughan Williams’ career; here he skillfully weaves textures in tribute to the musical practice of a master from four centuries before. John Williams’ E.T.: Adventures on Earth brings the beloved film’s unforgettable music to the concert hall, combining sweeping orchestral themes, thrilling momentum, and moments of wonder. More than 100 years on, The Planets is endlessly popular not only for Holst’s marvelous rhythms and otherworldly orchestral colors, but also for this work’s influence on composers coming after, especially in film scores. John Williams and Star Wars, anybody?