Step into a soundscape where brilliant rhythms and bold expression ignite the senses. From Piazzolla’s tango-infused intensity to an evocative new work by Henry Dorn, each piece shines with character and emotion. Guitarist Pablo Sáinz-Villegas lends his virtuosic flair to Michael Daugherty’s groundbreaking Bay of Pigs and Rodrigo’s distinctive Concierto de Aranjuez, while Williams’ Primera Suite Argentina captures the vibrant pulse of Latin American tradition. Prepare for an experience rich in feeling, complexity, and extraordinary artistry.

Bold innovation and exceptional virtuosity converge to reflect the many ways music can illuminate. Two of San Francisco’s shining composers premiere works inspired by New Century’s spirit, honoring its past while imagining new possibilities. Joseph Bologne’s vibrant violin concerto restores a long-overlooked brilliance to the spotlight, and Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence culminates in a rich cascade of melody and emotion. Each piece offers its own light, forming a constellation of artistry, legacy, and brilliance.

American violinist Simone Porter leads this collaboration between New Century and students from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in this musical tour of illumination. Featuring works from the 12th to the 21st century, each piece on the program depicts different kinds of light: light from nature, light that inspires or clarifies, light that bestows joy.  Beginning with Andrew Norman's Sabina, written in response to an ecstatic experience watching the sun rise in an ancient Roman cathedral, and moving through the upward gaze of Hildegard von Bingen's antiphon to divine wisdom, the program concludes with Mozart's Divertimento in F Major, the very spirit of levity and brilliance.

Bask in the glow of winter’s light with a radiant program of music that shimmers like freshly fallen snow. New Century Chamber Orchestra and the San Francisco Girls Chorus unite in a performance that radiates warmth and wonder. In a season of reflection and renewal, let this concert be a moment of serenity and shared joy to brighten the longest nights.

Take a musical journey through time that emerges at daybreak and culminates in one of music’s most iconic treasures.