Peoria Symphony opens new season on Saturday

The dynamic violinist Charles Yang returns to Peoria this weekend as guest artist for the Peoria Symphony Orchestra’s season-opening concert, “Carnival!” It will be the symphony’s 118^th season.

The concert is scheduled for 8 p.m. in the Peoria Civic Center Theatre.

George Stelluto, music director for the symphony, has titled the season as “A Season of Inspiring Programs.” The title of the season opener, “Carnival,” was inspired by the ancient spring festival celebrated around the world, the symphony said in a news release.

Edward Joseph Collins’ “Mardi Gras” will open the show, followed by the Oscar-winning music from “The Red Violin,” featuring Yang as the solo performer. Yang, critics claim, “plays violin with the charisma of a rock star.”

Other music in the show includes Igor Stravinsky’s “Petrushka.”

This is the second appearance with the Peoria symphony for Yang, a Juilliard graduate who is a frequent guest on the Emmy Award-winning PBS program “From the Top.”

Tickets for the concert start at $29; student tickets are $10.

Tickets are available by calling the PSO box office at (309) 671-1096, or online at www.peoriasymphony.org. They also will be available at the Civic Center box office at 7 p.m. Saturday, one hour before the concert.

Season tickets, Pick Four packages and single tickets are available. New season ticket subscribers are available for 50 percent off.

A pre-concert lecture will be conducted in the theatre lobby beginning at 7 p.m.