Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: Masterworks

Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: Masterworks at Tennessee Theatre

An orchestra can take you from moonlight to a hypnotic Spanish dance hall in a single evening. Knoxville Symphony Orchestra presents Masterworks at Tennessee Theatre on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 7:30 PM. Music Director Aram Demirjian conducts a program that opens with Debussy's Clair de lune and closes with Ravel's Boléro, framing works by Bartók and Messiaen. If you've been looking for a reason to return to Tennessee Theatre, this is a night built around music that rewards your attention.

Pianist Jeremy Denk joins the orchestra for Bartók's Piano Concerto No. 2, a work Demirjian describes as one of the most technically demanding in the piano repertoire. Bartók himself premiered the concerto in 1933, seeking music that would challenge the soloist while remaining approachable for the audience. Denk's appearance gives you a reason to watch a formidable player navigate a concerto designed to test stamina and skill.

The program also includes Messiaen's L'Ascension, four meditations rooted in the composer's Catholic faith, each carrying its own title and Biblical text. The evening's arc moves from quiet introspection through Bartók's athletic piano writing to Messiaen's spiritual reflections, then concludes with Boléro's famous crescendo. Together, the works trace connections among four composers active during a period of significant change in European music.

Spend an evening with music that asks something of you and offers something in return. Explore ticket options for Knoxville Symphony Orchestra at Tennessee Theatre and plan a night that begins with moonlight and ends with Boléro’s persistent rhythm.