The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra (HPO) welcomes acclaimed guest conductor Nil Venditti for Light Emerges on November 8 at FirstOntario Concert Hall. Four expressive works by Verdi, Elgar, Orawa and Mendelssohn will bring the audience on a journey from soundscapes of profound feeling and tragic destiny to brilliant scenes of celebration and joy.
The evening begins with an intense exploration of fate-driven tension in Giuseppe Verdi’s dramatic overture to his opera La forza del destino – a “Musicians’ Choice” selected for the season by HPO players. Next, HPO’s own Principal Cello Leana Rutt takes centre stage as soloist in Edward Elgar’s sole Cello Concerto, a haunting work created at the end of World War One that captures the British composer’s complicated feelings of loss.
“We have been looking forward to featuring Leana Rutt as soloist and sharing her spectacular talent with our HPO community since she first joined the orchestra in Season 22-23,” says HPO Executive Director Kim Varian. “The thoughtful and sensitive quality of her playing, coupled with the cello’s powerful ability to stir up emotion, ensures that this performance will deeply move our audience and inspire poignant moments of reflection ahead of Remembrance Day.”
The ‘light emerges’ after intermission as Wojciech Kilar’s Orawa for strings paints a picture of Poland’s Tatra Mountains with a breathtaking homage to the highlanders’ dances and folklore. Ending the night on a high note, Felix Mendelssohn’s jubilant and dynamic Symphony No. 4 “Italian” draws this concert to a close.
Attendees are invited to join HPO Composer-in-Residence Abigail Richardson-Schulte at 6:30 PM in the concert hall for a Pre-Concert Talk about the evening’s program, conductor and soloist. Those who wish to dive even deeper into the repertoire’s music history and experience an HPO rehearsal are also encouraged to attend Talk & Tea: The Romantics on Friday, November 7 at 11 AM.
Light Emerges
November 8, 2025 at 7:30PM
FirstOntario Concert Hall
1 Summers Ln, Hamilton, ON, L8P 4Y2
Tickets on sale at hpo.org
About the HPO: For 140 years, the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra has presented orchestral music and education programs with a mission to enrich the wellbeing of the greater Hamilton region. The HPO presents dynamic orchestral performances ranging from standard classical repertoire to popular music and world premieres by living composers. As one of Canada’s leading professional orchestras, the HPO has proudly contributed to the shaping of Hamilton’s cultural landscape.
HPO Media Contact:
Megan Nourse
Marketing & Strategic Initiatives Manager
289-216-8273
mnourse@hpo.org