Waterbury Symphony MasterWorks Concert: Twin Titans: Brahms and Schumann

Featuring internationally revered Garrick Ohlsson on piano Sunday, April 26, 2026 3:00 PM | Fine Arts Center, Naugatuck Valley Community College

WATERBURY, CT — The Waterbury Symphony Orchestra (WSO) invites audiences to a rare, once-in-several decade opportunity to experience the mastery of renowned international pianist Garrick Ohlsson performing with full symphony in the aptly named “Twin Titans: Brahms and Schumann” MasterWorks concert on Sunday, April 26, 2026 at the Fine Arts Center, CT State Community College Naugatuck Valley (formerly Naugatuck Valley Community College).

Audiences will have a rare opportunity to experience internationally acclaimed pianist Garrick Ohlsson performing with the full symphony in the “Twin Titans: Brahms and Schumann” MasterWorks concert on Sunday, April 26, 2026 at the Fine Arts Center, CT State Community College Naugatuck Valley.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS ONLINE

Audiences will experience the heart of Romantic passion as the WSO journeys through Schumann’s soaring Symphony No. 2—a sweeping, joyful work that balances euphoric intensity with moments of deep introspection. It is paired with Brahms’s electrifying Piano Concerto No. 1, which ranges from thunderous drama to intimate lyricism, culminating in a finale full of buoyant good humor. With the incomparable Garrick Ohlsson at the piano, this unforgettable work will stir the soul and ignite the imagination.

“WSO is thrilled to welcome one of the most distinguished international pianists of our time to join us on stage for this ‘Twin Titans’ concert, the internationally acclaimed Garrick Ohlsson,” shared WSO Artistic Director and Conductor Leif Bjaland. “I have known and admired Garrick’s artistry for many years and am delighted that this titan of the keyboard will be performing Johannes Brahms’s epic Piano Concerto No. 1.”

Two additional highlights await those fortunate enough to secure tickets:

• a captivating pre-concert talk by WSO Cultural Ambassador Dr. Vincent de Luise, and

• a post-concert celebratory reception for all attendees immediately following the performance.

Dr. de Luise, who describes this program as “an extraordinary concert—two monumental masterpieces of classical music,” will present a pre-concert talk with photos and music entitled “A Love Triangle in Music: Robert Schumann, Clara Schumann, and Johannes Brahms,” sharing insights into these great composers whose lives were deeply intertwined and who were born only 23 years apart.

Concert Details

Date/Time: Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 3:00 PM*

*Pre-Concert Lecture: 2:00 - 2:30 PM by WSO Cultural Ambassador Dr. Vincent de Luise

Post-Concert Reception: A short celebratory reception for all concert attendees in the Fine Arts Center atrium immediately following the performance

Location: Fine Arts Center, CT State Community College Naugatuck Valley, 750 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, CT

Program

Robert Schumann – Symphony No. 2 in C major, Op. 61 (approx. 41 min)Johannes Brahms – Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, featuring Garrick Ohlsson, piano (approx. 44 min)

Garrick Ohlsson Bio

Known worldwide as one of the finest pianists of his generation, Garrick Ohlsson is a native of White Plains, New York. He began piano studies at age eight, and at just thirteen entered The Juilliard School in New York. A prizewinner in numerous prestigious international competitions, he achieved global recognition with his Gold Medal victory at the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw—remaining the only American to have done so. Ohlsson has since established himself worldwide as a musician of magisterial interpretive depth and technical brilliance. He is a Steinway Artist and resides in San Francisco. https://garrickohlsson.com/

TICKETS & PARKING

Free accessible parking in covered garage

Tickets Starting at $25 plus standard booking fee; $10 for students with ID - Call box office

Tickets available at the door prior to the Concert

Tickets online, visit: waterburysymphony.org

Tickets by phone at WSO/ Palace Box Office: 203-346-2000*

For more information:

Waterbury Symphony Orchestra 

Telephone: 203-574-4283 

We also wish to thank our incredibly generous Season, Series & Concert sponsors:

For more information

By telephone to WSO, call 203-574-4283 [Tue, Thu, Fri 10 - 4pm] For Tickets Online, visit: www.waterburysymphony.org. For ticketing by Phone* 203-346-2000 [Mon - Fri 10 am - 5* pm]

*Via WSO/Palace Box Office

Waterbury Symphony Orchestra Telephone: 203-574-4283