Asheville Symphony Orchestra continues its 50th season at 8 p.m. on Saturday, February 12, at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. The concert will feature works by Mozart, Walton, Rachmaninoff, and Prokofiev, and will be conducted by Music Director Daniel Meyer.

The concert will continue the Symphony’s exploration of music inspired by Shakespeare, starting with William Walton’s heartfelt music from Henry V, “Passacaglia on the Death of Falstaff.” Next is the beloved Concerto No. 21 in C Major for Piano and Orchestra, K. 467 (“Elvira Madigan”) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The piece requires the soloist to be “both virtuoso and poet,” according to Maestro Meyer.

The “virtuoso and poet” for this performance will be Dudana Mazmanishvili, whose playing has been described by Harris Goldsmith in the New York Concert Review: “One came away not only dazzled, but spiritually uplifted...”

The concert will continue the Shakespeare connection and Valentine’s Day theme with its final work, excerpts from Sergei Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet. Meyer says, “Prokofiev takes you right into the heart of the drama, from the humble, palpitating pangs of first love to the tumult of interfamily strife. The sword fights, the clandestine rendezvous, and the cries of horror and joy are all clearly delineated in this dramatic score.”

Two free presentations will be offered for those who enjoy having extra exposure to the music and its background. From 3–4:30 p.m. on Friday, February 11, at the Reuter Center on the Campus of UNC Asheville, Meyer will discuss the musical works and introduce the featured soloists, with longtime WCQS music host Chip Kaufmann talking about the composers’ life and times. From 7–7:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 23, Meyer will present an abridged version of his talk on the musical works, and will introduce the soloist in the Banquet Hall of the Asheville Civic Center.

Tickets, ranging in price from $20 to $55 (with discounts available for students) are available through the Symphony office or the Asheville Civic Center box office., Visit ashevillesymphony.org or call 828.254.7046 for more information or to purchase subscription tickets for the remainder of ASO’s 50th anniversary season.