Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2
Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 4:00 pm
Monday, January 19, 2026, at 7:30 pm

John Morris Russell, conductor
Reid Messich, oboe

Eric Whitacre Prelude in C
Richard Strauss Oboe Concerto, TrV 292 (AV 144), D Major
Sergei Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2, Op. 27, E minor

An evening of sweeping emotion, lyrical beauty, and timeless inspiration awaits as JMR and the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra present a program that bridges centuries, styles, and personal connections.

The program opens with the East Coast premiere of Prelude in C by Eric Whitacre, one of today’s most celebrated American composers. Inspired by J.S. Bach’s keyboard prelude of the same name, this shimmering new orchestral work was commissioned by JMR and the Cincinnati Pops and marks a rare foray into purely symphonic music from a composer best known for his groundbreaking choral works. Whitacre—once a protégé of JMR—is now a globally recognized voice in 21st-century music.

Then, HHSO Principal Oboe Reid Messich takes center stage for Richard Strauss’ Oboe Concerto in D Major, a late-life gem of the repertoire, completed in 1945. Composed in the wake of World War II, the concerto radiates a sense of innocence and beauty that defies its turbulent time. Messich, a Curtis Institute graduate, professor at UGA’s Hodgson School of Music, and member of both the Masterworks Festival and the Iris Collective, brings deep artistry to this elegant and virtuosic work.

The evening concludes with Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2, a lush, emotionally sweeping masterpiece overflowing with melody and orchestral color. As Rachmaninoff’s most popular symphonic work, the symphony captures the full Romantic spirit, infused with longing, passion, and grandeur—written by an immigrant who found refuge and inspiration in the United States.

A richly textured concert that reflects the past, embraces the present, and looks toward the future through the power of music.

Thank you to our Performance Sponsor