But that’s not true at all. Classical music is just as varied as any genre you’d care to name.The Charleston Symphony’s 2026-27 season offers proof. Its season kicks off at the Gaillard Center on Sept. 25 with a two-night performance called “A Charleston Carnival.”
The program features Ryo Hasegawa, the symphony assistant conductor, making his Masterworks debut. CSO Artistic Director Yuriy Bekker says the decision to give Hasegawa the opening-night podium was easy.
“Ryo is such a talented musician, and it is so special that he will conduct our opening night,” Bekker said in a recent interview.
The program pairs Sibelius’ Second Symphony with Berlioz’s “Roman Carnival.” Principal Trumpet Antonio Marti will perform Haydn’s “Trumpet Concerto,” while Marti and recently appointed Trumpet Laureate Phil Smith will join forces for Vivaldi’s “Concerto for Two Trumpets.”
“This is going to be an epic weekend,” Bekker said.
And then there’s Lang Lang, one of the most acclaimed pianists in the world, who will join the CSO on Sept. 28 for Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, the “Emperor.”
But there are also contemporary collaborations, including the Dec. 17 to Dec. 19 “Holiday Pops,” featuring Broadway and Glee star Cheyenne Jackson, and a return engagement with Charleston’s own Grammy-winning Gullah jazz band Ranky Tanky on March 15.
“Every concert tells a story and has a special meaning,” said Bekker. “It is so hard to choose what my favorite program is. I love them all.”
As you might imagine, the season’s planning process is considerably more involved than simply assembling a list of titles. Bekker said he considers what the community wants to hear, what the musicians want to play, what works haven’t been performed in years, and which programs might serve as artistic or popular blockbusters.
He also works closely with the CSO’s Artistic Committee, which includes board members, musicians, staff and community members.
“I would come to the meeting with a pen and paper to listen to some wonderful ideas,” Bekker says. “We have so many creative people in our organization and therefore the committee is a tremendous resource.”
Expecting the unexpected
The planning process for a new CSO season used to begin about a year out, but Bekker says the symphony is now moving toward planning two to three years ahead.
That longer view also creates room for more ambitious ideas, including a proposed film project built around Ravel’s “Boléro,” whose premiere will mark its 100th anniversary next year.
Bekker said he envisions filming CSO musicians performing the piece at several of Charleston’s landmarks, then projecting the movie while the orchestra performs the music live.
“As we look into the future our desire is to deliver more than just music,” he says. “ ‘Expect the Unexpected’ is our slogan, and so we would like to give our audiences a meaningful experience.”
The goal, he says, is for the time spent in the concert hall to feel almost suspended from ordinary life.
“My hope is that the two hours in the hall with the CSO will feel like a minute because our aim is for our audience to enjoy every moment, be completely immersed in the music and forget about all the struggles and challenges of everyday life.”
That desire for immersion also extends to the symphony itself. Bekker, who is entering his 20th season with the CSO, says the ideal musician is not merely a technically accomplished player, but someone who understands the communal nature of the work.
Bekker says one of the most rewarding parts of conducting the CSO is watching musicians respond to one another and take ownership of the music.
“I love watching them respond to an idea, take ownership of the music and create something together that is so beautiful,” he says. “There is nothing more rewarding than standing on the podium and feeling that the entire orchestra is breathing together.”
This season’s repertoire gives those musicians plenty to sink their teeth into. Bekker is particularly excited about works that haven’t been heard from the symphony in a long time, including Bartók’s “Concerto for Orchestra,” Beethoven’s “Missa Solemnis” and Mahler’s Third Symphony.
Bekker’s overall goal is to balance the familiar with the unexpected, serving the community while giving the musicians opportunities to perform the works they’re passionate about.
“I feel very fortunate that our community trusts us,” he says. “That trust means a great deal to me, and I want to honor it by creating performances that are not only beautiful, but also meaningful and memorable.”
IF YOU WANT TO GO: Find a full rundown of the CSO’s 2026-27 season at charlestonsymphony.org.
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