• The season begins when legendary conductor Leonard Slatkin returns to celebrate his joint 80th birthday with the Rhode Island Philharmonic's. Hear Gershwin's An American in Paris and with the phenomenal Olga Kern, Rachmaninoff's ravishing Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.

• Back also in this anniversary season is the esteemed Pinchas Zukerman to play and conduct works of Haydn and of Beethoven.

• Ruth Reinhardt leads the Orchestra for her first concert as Music Director Designate with a program including Dvořák's "New World" Symphony, along with Mendelssohn's beloved Violin Concerto performed by the charismatic Blake Pouliot.

• For his first concert as Principal Conductor, Robert Spano leads Beethoven's mighty "Eroica" Symphony. Also, Jennifer Higdon's All Things Majestic, featuring breathtaking projected images drawn from the natural world. And with students from the RI Philharmonic Music School sitting Side-by-Side with the RIPO, those massed forces present Shostakovich's rousing Festive Overture.

• On Valentine's weekend, Ravel's seductive Boléro, Rachmaninoff's luxuriant Symphonic Dances, and the poetic Rounds of Jessie Montgomery with path-blazing pianist Awadagin Pratt.

• Pianist Jeffrey Biegel performs Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue in a program also featuring William Dawson's inspiring Negro Folk Symphony of 1934, and Rhode Island native Peter Boyer's Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue.

• Saint-Saëns' roaring "Organ Symphony" will thunder throughout The VETS in April. Also, Rachel Barton Pine will dazzle in the Second Violin Concerto of jazz master Billy Childs.

• And to conclude the season - Robert Spano conducts Brahms' powerful and poetic settings from the Bible, A German Requiem.