Ravel’s suite from “Mother Goose,” an enchanting and powerful depiction of beloved fairy tales, and Mahler’s serenely beautiful “Fourth Symphony” will be performed
The following is a press release provided by The Southeastern Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra
On Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra launches its 54th Season with Ravel’s suite from “Mother Goose,” an enchanting and powerful depiction of beloved fairy tales, and Mahler’s serenely beautiful “Fourth Symphony” that captures a child’s vision of heaven with internationally acclaimed soprano Leah Partridge.
As one of the region’s only professional orchestras in southeastern Pennsylvania, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra presents season tickets for the Masterworks Concert Series on Saturday evenings and the Chamber Music Concert Series on Sunday afternoons.
The Masterworks Concert Series features world renowned soloists and great symphonic music from Mozart and Mahler to Prokofiev, Copland, Schubert, and Ravel, along with world renowned soloists such as Partridge, celebrated pianist Young-Ah Tak, and internationally renowned cellist Ovidiu Marinescu.
Maurice Ravel’s 1911 “Mother Goose” for four-hand piano captures his love of children’s stories and his fascination with the world of children. The work consisted of five tableaus from ancient French fairy tales that dealt with moralistic issues. Titled “Ma Mère l’Oye” (literally translated “My Mother, the Goose”), the work took on a single image or idea from fairy tales rather than retell the stories themselves. The work was premiered by children ages six and ten. Later arranged for orchestra, the work is bookend with “Pavane of the Sleeping Beauty” and the “Enchanted Garden,” portraying Prince Charming awaking Sleeping Beauty with a kiss. He also portrays “Little Tom Thumb,” “Little Ugly One,” the story of “The Green Serpent,” where a beautiful princess was magically disfigured by an evil witch, “Beauty and the Beast.”
Gustav Mahler created his “Fourth Symphony” around the poem “The Heavenly Life” and its description of heaven as seen through the eyes of a child. He, however, does not use childish innocence to suggest naiveté, but, rather, an all-knowing perception of heaven. In his “Fourth Symphony,” there is hardly any of the conflict that is the hallmark of Mahler’s music and the Fourth remains one of his most accessible and lovable works. He described the overall concept of the work saying that “it contains the cheerfulness of a higher and, to us, an unfamiliar world that holds for us something eerie and horrifying. In ‘The Heavenly Life’ the child explains how everything is meant to be.” While there are no great struggles or existential questions in Mahler’s “Fourth Symphony,” there is still a sense of wonderment, and the universal question of what it all means – a question that, Mahler suggests, only a child can answer.
Celebrated for her “full, rich voice, captivating in its beauty and grace” (Opera Now) and her “clear, agile soprano” (Chicago Sun Times), Partridge has garnered worldwide critical acclaim for her compelling interpretations of over forty of opera’s leading ladies. With a performing career spanning over 20 years, Partridge has performed in some of the world’s most significant opera houses, including Seattle Opera, The Washington National Opera, The Metropolitan Opera, Semper Oper Dresden, Palau de les Artes Valencia, Teatro Colón Buenos Aires, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Atlanta Opera, Minnesota Opera, Detroit Opera, Florida Grand Opera, and Chicago Opera Theater, among others.
Masterworks Concert Series
The 2025-2026 Season opens October 11th with Ravel’s “Mother Goose Suite,” an enchanting and powerful depiction of beloved fairy tales, and Metropolitan Opera Soprano Leah Partridge performs Gustav Mahler’s Fourth Symphony that captures a child’s vision of heaven. The Masterworks Concert Series continues with the “Mozart By Candlelight” in November as the Southeastern Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra performs Mozart’s popular “Symphony No. 38,” the Overture to “The Magic Flute,” and Schubert’s “Unfinished Symphony” – all set entirely to candlelight. The “Mozart By Candlelight” sells quickly, and season ticket holders get first priority on these tickets.
In February, audiences will experience the heroic grandeur of Beethoven’s immortal Emperor Piano Concerto with Tak as well as the romance, drama, and heartbreak of Prokofiev’s gripping score to “Romeo & Juliet.”
The “Third Symphony” of legendary composer Aaron Copland transcends American idealism and offers a promise of hope in the season finale in May. The concert begins with Marinescu and his own “Concerto for Two Cellos” featuring Paino.
Chamber Music Concert Series
The Chamber Music Concert Series sells out and is a must see add on to the Masterworks Concert Series. This Series allows audiences to experience the musicians of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra in an intimate setting within the same performance venue of Calvary Baptist Church. From a piano trio, marimba soloist, wind quintet, and a string quartet these concerts add to the concert experience for the community. The Chamber Music Concert Series launches October 26 with a piano trio and the music of Beethoven and continues throughout the season on Sunday afternoons. Other Chamber Music Concerts include the music of Mozart, Rossini, Bach, Debussy, Ravel, Fauré, and Brahms.
There is something for everyone – symphonic music lovers to chamber music fans – the Southeastern Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra is here for the community. Experience our music-making!
Calvary Baptist Church has one of the best venues for music. From the accessibility of the venue and generous parking to the incredible acoustics and large seating area, Calvary Baptist Church makes for one of the finest performance venues in the region.
Tickets for the 2025-2026 Season are already for sale at spsorchestra.org.
Calvary Baptist Church is located at 1380 S. Valley Forge Road, Lansdale (Worcester Township).
