Rites of Passage

Classics I

Rites of Passage

Celebrate innovation and legacy, bridging past and present, the 2026-2027 season opener pairs the groundbreaking ballet score, Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, with a world premiere symphony commissioned Garret Foulke and Dorothy Correa, composed by Stefan Podell. This dynamic program opens with the vibrant Danse Nègre by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.  Witness the bold collision of tradition and innovation in a concert that promises to ignite your imagination from the first note.

Sunday, October 4, 2026, 3:00pm

Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo

Tickets on sale July 20

Concert Sponsor: Foulke Correa Foundation

Program Details

Coleridge Taylor Danse Nègre from African Suite, Op.35

  • Samuel Coleridge-Taylor originally wrote Danse Nègre as a piano piece before orchestrating it.
  • The piece is the lively final movement of the African Suite, Op. 35.
  • Danse Nègre is famous for its energetic rhythms and colorful orchestration.

Podell Untitled New Work 

World Premiere Commissioned by Garrett Foulke & Dorothy Correa, co-commissioned by the American Composers Forum

  • Premiering in 2026

Stravinsky Rite of Spring 

  • Igor Stravinsky composed The Rite of Spring for a ballet.
  • The work premiered in Paris in 1913.
  • Its bold rhythms and dissonant harmonies helped revolutionize 20th-century classical music.

Special Matinee

To ease traffic and parking concerns resulting from a college sporting events taking place the same weekend, this concert has been scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 3 PM.

  • Walk the red carpet as we open our 26-27 season

Enhance Your Experience

Symphonic Foray — Pre-Concert Talk

  • Special start time at 2pm
  • Go behind the scenes with Maestro Sewell, and other special guests
  • Learn more about the history of the music
  • Free to all concert ticketholders

No Ties Allowed — Open Rehearsal

  • Because of the matinee schedule, a No Ties Allowed open rehearsal will not be offered for this concert.
  • Join us at a future No Ties Allowed event.

Listen In

Enjoy this curated playlist of the concert program in Spotify.

Access for All

At the SLO Symphony, we believe everyone deserves access to the inspiring experience of live music.

To help make this performance accessible to our community, child and student tickets are priced at just $12, and adult tickets start at only $20, making it possible for more people to experience this powerful performance together. Ticket availability is limited and is offered on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. These community-focused ticket prices are made possible through the stewardship of our Board of Directors and the generosity of our donors, whose support helps ensure that the arts remain accessible to all.