Keys of Grandeur

Classics II

SLO Symphony and Paderewski Festival Present Keys of Grandeur

Be swept into an evening of passion, color, and virtuosity. The program opens with the lively Mazurka from Halka by Stanisław Moniuszko, before presenting Beethoven’s regal Emperor Concerto, performed by rising star Hyunjin Roy. After intermission, the orchestra explores the emotional depth of Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique, a work of haunting beauty and intense expression. In partnership with the Paderewski Festival, this concert promises an unforgettable night of virtuosity, passion, and musical brilliance.

San Luis Obispo Performing Arts Center

Saturday November 7, 2026, 7:30pm

Concert sponsors: Paderewski Festival

Seeking additional sponsors

Program Details

  • Stanisław Moniuszko – Mazurka from Halka (1858)
  • Halka is considered Poland’s national opera.
  • The Mazurka is based on a traditional Polish folk dance.
  • The opera’s 1858 premiere helped establish Moniuszko as Poland’s leading composer.

Ludwig van Beethoven – Piano Concerto No.5 in E-flat op.73 “Emperor”

  • Featuring Hyunjin Roy, winner of the 2025 Paderewski International Piano Competition
  • Beethoven never called it the “Emperor”; the nickname was added later by others.
  • The concerto opens unusually with the piano playing almost immediately.
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Symphony No. 6 in B minor op.74 “Pathétique”
  • Tchaikovsky conducted the premiere just nine days before his death.
  • The nickname “Pathétique” suggests deep emotion and passion rather than sadness alone.
  • Unlike most symphonies, it ends with a slow, quiet movement instead of a triumphant finale.

Classical 101: Facts That Might Surprise You

  • Paderewski visited Paso Robles in 1914 and bought over 2,800 acres in the area later that year. Epoch Winery is now the steward of the vineyard he planted. In 1917, Paderewski extended his local presence, purchasing over 2,600 acres in Santa Maria with oil exploration on his mind. Oil was never found there and he sold that property in 1933
  • Paderewski was the prime minister of Poland in 1919 and signed the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I
  • Paderewski’s opera “Manru” is the only opera by a Polish composer ever performed by the Metropolitan Opera in New York
  • Mozart died just two months after the premiere of “The Magic Flute”
  • The “opus” number – abbreviated “Op.” – designates the order in which the piece was issued. For example, the Paderewski piano concerto is his opus number 17 – the seventeenth piece in his catalog
  • Paderewski’s close friend Zygmunt Stojowski (1870-1946) was one of the founders of what eventually became the Juilliard School of Music

Enhance Your Experience

Symphonic Foray — Pre-Concert Talk

  • Start time at 6:30pm
  • Go behind the scenes with Maestro Sewell, soloist Vladyslava Luchenko, Composer Craig Russell, and other special guests
  • Free to all concert ticket holders

No Ties Allowed — Open Rehearsal

See how the orchestra prepares for a concert! A casual environment perfect for the “symphony curious” and those with younger children. Begins at 11:00am. Learn more about No Ties Allowed events.

What You’ll Hear

Enjoy a preview of what we have in store for you. This curated playlist is available on Spotify.