Classical Connections feat. Howard Levy, Harmonica + Piano

Experience the extraordinary artistry of two-time Grammy Award winner Howard Levy—virtuoso pianist, pioneering diatonic harmonica player, composer, and educator. Internationally acclaimed for revolutionizing harmonica technique, Levy transformed the instrument into a true concert soloist capable of performing across classical, jazz, folk, and world music. The program features the world-premiere performance of his groundbreaking Eastern European Harmonica and Piano Concerto for Single Soloist, a vibrant four-movement work inspired by the rich musical traditions of Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Turkey, and the Balkans. The concerto showcases dazzling virtuosity, colorful folk-dance rhythms, improvisation, and Levy's remarkable ability to perform harmonica and piano simultaneously. Also on the program is Beethoven's spirited Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93, a brilliant masterpiece brimming with wit, energy, and inventive musical surprises. Compact yet remarkably expressive, the symphony races from its opening measures through playful humor, lyrical warmth, and one of Beethoven's most exhilarating finales, demonstrating the composer's boundless creativity at the height of his powers.