2026-2027 Concerts Series
The Program
John Williams “Suite from Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (maybe with visuals!)
Missy Mazzoli “Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres)”
Gustav Holst “The Planets”
The PSO launches its 29th season with a concert that brings the solar system—and all its intense, movie-worthy mystery—to life. Audiences will recognize familiar melodies from timeless favorites like “Star Wars” and “Pinocchio” in Williams’ “Suite from Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” where music becomes the way humans connect with benevolent alien beings. Mazzoli’s “Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres)” mirrors the circular nature of planets and their orbits—swirling closer before being flung back out into space at breakneck speed. Epic and moving, the distinctive celestial personas in Holst’s “The Planets,” have made it one of the most influential works in orchestral music. Each movement paints a vivid character of its planet, and its sweeping sound world has inspired generations of film composers from the “Darth Vader” theme in “Star Wars” (notably influenced by “Mars”) to the music of “Gladiator,” and other scores by Hans Zimmer.
What Makes This Concert Special?
- Cosmic theme that brings the mystery and wonder of the universe to life
- In John Williams’s “Suite from Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, music becomes the bridge between worlds. Built around the now-iconic five-note musical theme, used by humans and extraterrestrials to communicate, the score captures the awe and uncertainty of first contact while showcasing the lush orchestral sound that would come to define modern cinematic music. Written during the same creative period as Star Wars, the work reflects Williams’ gift for transforming science fiction into something deeply emotional and human.
- Missy Mazzoli’s “Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres)” propels the audience into a constantly shifting sonic universe. Inspired by the motion of planets and gravitational pull, the piece surges with spiraling energy, shimmering textures, and moments of exhilarating chaos. Mazzoli describes the work as “music in the shape of a solar system,” creating the sensation of bodies spinning toward and away from one another in unpredictable motion. Both contemporary and cinematic, the piece reveals the orchestra’s extraordinary ability to create entirely new worlds of sound.
- Composed during the upheaval of World War I, “The Planets” by Gustav Holst remains one of the most influential orchestral works ever written. Rather than portraying the planets astronomically, Holst imagined their mythological and astrological personalities — from the violent force of “Mars, the Bringer of War” to the sweeping optimism of “Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity” and the haunting mystery of “Neptune, the Mystic.” Its bold orchestral colors and dramatic scope would go on to shape generations of film music, leaving echoes in scores from Star Wars to Gladiator.
What You'll Hear
Take a Closer Look
- The Listener’s Club: A Cinematic Tone Poem
- Dario Marianelli explains John Williams’ impact on Close Encounters
- Steven Spielberg talking about the music of Close Encounters
- Audience members catch a Close Encounters easter egg in Project Hail Mary
- NPR: Interview with Missy Mazzoli
- Missy Mazzoli: Struggle is part of the process
- NASA Scientific Visualization Studio
- NASA: Listening to the universe
- 5 reasons to love The Planets
- Orch Lab: The Planets Listening Guide
- Reddit: The Planets used in other media
The Details
- The concert will last approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes including a 15 minute intermission.
- Join us at 1:45 PM for a pre-concert talk by Music Director John Page.
- We recommend arriving 30 minutes in advance to allow ample time for parking and finding a seat.
- Is this your first time joining us? Welcome! Visit our Before You Arrive page to learn more!
