Four notes instantly recognizable across generations welcome back the much-loved Symphony No. 5 to the Kleinhans stage. Dance Symphony's rhythmic jazz motifs were drawn from an evocative Copland ballet about a morbid conjurer who could raise the dead and make them dance. Beethoven expands on Mozart's influence in his Piano Concerto No. 1, featuring challenging key changes and bold harmonies.

A myriad of eclectic instruments—including pots, pans, and metal gadgets—accompany world-renowned percussionist Colin Currie and his acclaimed BPO ensemble in performing Danny Elfman's offbeat, idiosyncratic Percussion Concerto, composed without brass or woodwinds. Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony, once plagued by poor reviews and personal self-doubt, endures as a beloved, emotionally lyrical masterpiece, proving its timeless appeal.