Richard Strauss’s late masterpiece Metamorphosen stands among the most moving works of the 20th century: a lament for a world destroyed by war, written for 23 solo strings whose lines weave together in an outpouring of grief and beauty. In striking counterpoint, American composer Missy Mazzoli’s These Worlds in Us offers a contemporary meditation on memory and love, its luminous textures and sustained harmonies speaking with both tenderness and strength.

The program concludes with the fresh air and rhythmic vitality of Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony, inspired by his travels through the Highlands. From its mist-shrouded opening to its joyful finale, the symphony captures the spirit of renewal that threads through this powerful, emotionally satisfying program.