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The music discussed in this podcast will be performed by the North Carolina Symphony, with Justin Bruns as soloist, in Wilmington on October 8 at the Wilson Center; in Raleigh on October 9/10 at Meymandi Concert Hall, and in Chapel Hill on October 18 at Memorial Hall.

Mendelssohn Violin Concerto | Haydn Symphony No. 49 | Schumann Symphony No. 2

NCS Concertmaster Justin Bruns joins Music Director Carlos Miguel Prieto to discuss insights and connections behind Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. The music discussed in this podcast will be performed by the North Carolina Symphony as part of the Mendelssohn and Mozart program in New Bern, Pinehurst, Raleigh, and Wilson, N.C.

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© 2026 | A North Carolina Symphony Production

Music Director Carlos Miguel Prieto shares insights and connections behind our opening weekend program: Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, Stravinsky’s dazzling Petrushka, and the centerpiece of the program—Rachmaninoff’s breathtaking Piano Concerto No. 3.

The music discussed in this podcast will be performed by the North Carolina Symphony, with guest pianist Boris Giltburg, at Raleigh's Meymandi Concert Hall on September 18-19, 2026.

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© 2026 | A North Carolina Symphony Production

Music Director Carlos Miguel Prieto shares the personal stories and connections behind our season finale: Gabriela Ortiz’s Kauyumari, Copland’s iconic Appalachian Spring, and Silvestre Revueltas’ powerful Night of the Mayas.

The music in this podcast will be performed by the North Carolina Symphony Raleigh's Meymandi Concert Hall at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, May 8-9.

In this week’s Backstage Pass, Music Director Carlos Miguel Prieto explores the rare and striking pairing at the heart of this program and discusses why this unusual combination creates a transcendent musical experience.

The music in this podcast will be performed by the North Carolina Symphony with the NC Master Chorale in Raleigh's Meymandi Concert Hall at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, April 10-11.

Music Director Carlos Miguel Prieto shares his insights on two major works of the orchestral repertoire—Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto and Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra—and talks about collaborating with pianist Anne-Marie McDermott, who joins us for this weekend’s performances with your North Carolina Symphony.

Join Carlos for a vivid journey through Tchaikovsky and Ravel as he uncovers orchestral imagination, ballet lore, and the legendary “Auer” Stradivarius violin that once refused a premiere – revealing why these three masterpieces still thrill, surprise, and utterly captivate.

Join Music Director Carlos Miguel Prieto as he dives into a vibrant, all‑American program—Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture, John Adams’ Saxophone Concerto featuring Timothy McAllister, Bernstein’s spirited excerpts from On the Town, and James P. Johnson’s jubilant "Victory Stride." Carlos shares the stories and musical threads that connect these iconic voices and illuminate the richness of America’s sound.

In this episode, discover the stories behind the music of one of this season’s most eclectic and emotional programs—featuring Beethoven’s epic "Eroica" Symphony, Schumann’s lyrical Cello Concerto performed by guest cellist Paul Watkins, and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Jennifer Higdon’s Suite from Cold Mountain.

Carlos Miguel Prieto explores the artistic bond between Copland and Chávez, joined by clarinetist Samuel Almaguer for a rich conversation on musical storytelling and performance.