“For years, some dear friends in town on Christmas Eve would host a magnificent smorgasbord just like those they grew up with in their native Sweden. An invitation to this was most coveted and the Peltz’s always hoped they would make the final cut. The counters groaned under the weight of food that was delicious but so varied – one wondered how the different cheeses, meats and fish would go together on the plate? Our host knew instinctively and thus the differences came together as a perfect whole.

Maybe our season this year is like that. No theme, but a laying out of delights planned just for you. We put first on our plate the Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances, a virtuoso tour de force for each section of the orchestra. We also look forward to the return of breathtaking mezzo-soprano MaryAnne McCormack, who sang Mahler for us just two seasons ago. As the leaves turn in November, we take a helping of a favored dish - again welcoming to the soloist’s spot our own Michael Emery in Piazzola’s Autumn, a tango tip of the hat to Vivaldi. Enchanting Ravel and the sunny and effervescent Mendelssohn Italian symphony go on the plate as well.

Next are fresh fruits – young voices return as the high school choirs from Glens Falls, Hudson Falls and Queensbury join us onstage for a holiday graced with the joyous voices of young people singing varied songs of the season. Then we help ourselves to a new dish - as we step out of our classical shoes and put on our dancing shoes to recreate the sound of the Paul Whiteman orchestra of the 192os and 30s. This virtuoso “band” premiered the Rhapsody in Blue in the original version we will hear tonight (a Glens Falls premiere!) and we garnish that with a plateful of popular tunes from the flapper era. We end with the Adirondack voices joining us in the main course – the Mozart Requiem. This monumental work was one of Mozart’s last and in it we hear the Mozart bring to the table all his powers to depict in music the greatest drama of life- the tears and joys, fears and the ultimate rest that make up life’s final moments.”