Description

Symphony San Jose opens the 2026- 2027 Season by celebrating 250 years of the American spirit with music that reflects the nation’s past, present, and promise. Performances: Saturday, October 3 at 7:30pm and Sunday, Oct 4 at 2:30pm Aaron Copland’s Billy the Kid has become synonymous with the American West. Drawing on folk tunes, wide-open harmonies, and cinematic energy, Copland captures the myth, optimism, and rugged individualism that helped shape the American imagination. Pianist Joyce Yang, known for her brilliance, depth, and expressive power, delivers the Bay Area premiere of Jonathan Leshnoff’s Rhapsody on America—a lyrical meditation on the American spirit that weaves together sweeping virtuosity, intimate reflection, and propulsive rhythmic energy. Czech composer Antonín Dvořák’s greatest work, his New World Symphony, was composed during his time in the United States. Inspired by American landscapes and musical traditions, this symphony remains a profound reflection of cultural identity, hope, and discovery—ideas at the very core of the American experiment.