Mahler’s Titan

The William J. Fenza Memorial Concert

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• Saturday, May 16, 2026 @ 7:30 pm · get tickets
• Sunday, May 17, 2026 @ 2:00 pm · get tickets

Diane Wittry, Conductor
Erik Ralske, principal horn of The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra

GRAZYNA BACEWICZ Overture
RICHARD STRAUSS Horn Concerto No. 1
GUSTAV MAHLER Symphony No. 1 “Titan”

Experience an unforgettable evening of music with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra at Miller Symphony Hall! The program begins with an electrifying overture by Grazyna Bacewicz, the trailblazing Polish composer whose dynamic orchestral works are a feast for the senses. Next, renowned guest soloist Erik Ralske, principal horn of the Metropolitan Opera, will showcase his virtuosity in Strauss’s demanding and Romantic Horn Concerto No. 1. The night culminates in Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, “Titan,” a masterpiece bursting with youthful exuberance, introspection, and soaring melodies. Don’t miss this captivating concert—secure your tickets now!

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ARTIST BIO

ERIK RALSKE
Erik Ralske was appointed by Maestro James Levine as Principal Horn of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra beginning with the 2010-2011 season. On July 6, 2010 he was featured in a front-page article in the New York Times for having won both the Met Opera position and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Principal Horn position in the same week!

Prior to joining the Met, he was a member of the New York Philharmonic for 17 seasons–11 years as Third Horn and 6 years as Acting Associate Principal Horn. During his tenure with the New York Philharmonic, Mr. Ralske was a soloist with the orchestra over a dozen times in New York, as well as on tour in Europe and South America with former Music Directors Kurt Masur and Lorin Maazel. Other previous orchestra positions include Associate Principal Horn with the Houston Symphony Orchestra and Principal Horn with the Vancouver and Florida Symphony Orchestras.

Mr. Ralske has always been in demand for solo and master class appearances, not only throughout North America, but also in Asia, Europe and South America. In recent years, he has played solo recitals in New York, Los Angeles, Kansas, Tokyo (at the invitation of the Japan Horn Society), Taipei, and Kaoshiung. During the same period, he led master classes at Juilliard, Showa University (Tokyo), Columbus State University, Dohai University (Taipei), University of Western Michigan, and University of Kansas. Mr. Ralske has been a featured artist at renowned summer music festivals in Aspen, La Jolla, Bridgehampton, Vancouver, Seattle and Lake Tahoe. This summer in Lake Tahoe, he will join one of the star tenors of the Met Opera, Matthew Polenzani, in a performance of Benjamin Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn and String Orchestra.

Erik Ralske has long been active in the recording industry, having performed on many movie soundtracks–from “Platoon” (1986), to many recent releases, such as “Moonrise Kingdom” (2012). His 2011 live performance of Siegfried’s Horn Call is available on iTunes as a Met Opera “Ring” Tone.

Currently, he is on the faculty of the Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, and Mannes College of Music. He received both his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the Juilliard School. His primary teachers were Ranier DeIntinis, John Cerminaro and Myron Bloom.

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