Holst's The Planets

Journey beyond the stars with a celestial program that blends orchestral wonder with a heartfelt tribute. Holst’s The Planets, a cosmic masterpiece that shaped the sound of generations of film scores, anchors an evening of space-inspired music. The program features the world premiere of James Lee III’s Saxophone Concerto, written for and performed by Timothy McAllister, one of the world’s finest saxophonists.

McAllister, the son of a NASA engineer, commissioned this piece in honor of Ron McNair—fellow saxophonist, physicist, and one of the astronauts lost in the Challenger tragedy. This moving tribute marks the 40th anniversary of that fateful mission and celebrates McNair’s legacy of courage, creativity, and excellence. The concert opens with Joaquín Rodrigo’s A la busca del más allá (“In Search of the Beyond”), a haunting meditation on space exploration. With visionary conductor and new music champion Tito Muñoz conducting, prepare for a night of majesty, memory, and musical lift-off.

You may also like the following events from Nashville Symphony:

• This Saturday, 10th January, 07:30 pm, Mozart's Jupiter Symphony in Nashville
• Next Friday, 16th January, 07:30 pm, John Coltrane: Legacy for Orchestra in Nashville
• This month, 24th January, 07:30 pm, Disney's Frozen in Concert in Nashville

Also check out other Entertainment events in Nashville, Concerts in Nashville, Music events in Nashville.