CLASSICAL COLLECTION Mendelssohn & Needleman
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
JOSEPH MEYERHOFF SYMPHONY HALL
Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 8 pm
THE MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE
Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 3 pm
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Kristiina Poska, conductor Katherine Needleman, oboe
Kristiina Poska
Kaupo Kikkas
Béla Bartók
Romanian Folk Dances I. Jocul cu bâta(“ Stick Dance”) II. Brâul(“ Sash Dance”) III. Pe loc(“ In One Spot”) IV. Buciumeana(“ Dance from Bucsum”) V. Poarga româneasca(“ Fast Dance”) VI. Maruntel
Bohuslav Martinů |
Oboe Concerto, H. 353 |
/ Maurice Bourgue |
I. |
Moderato |
and Guy Porat; edited |
II. |
Poco andante |
III. Poco allegro |
INTERMISSION
Katherine Needleman, oboe
Felix Mendelssohn Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56,“ Scottish” I. Andante con moto- Allegro un poco agitato II. Vivace non troppo III. Adagio IV. Allegro vivacissimo- Allegro maestoso assai
This performance is approximately 1 hour, 40 minutes, and includes a 20-minute intermission.
Featured soloist BSO Principal Oboe Katherine Needleman is the holder of the Robert H. and Ryda H. Levi Chair.
Kristiina Poska
Acclaimed for her artistry and versatility, Kristiina Poska stands among the most sought-after conductors on today’ s international music scene. She serves as Music Director of the Orchestre Français des Jeunes since 2025, and as Principal Guest Conductor of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra since the 2021 – 22 season. Previously, she held the position of Chief Conductor of the Flanders Symphony Orchestra from 2019 – 20 through the 2024-25 season.
This season, Poska debuts with Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Essen Philharmonic, Sinfonia Varsovia, Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. She also returns to the Orchestre National de Metz, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and Minnesota Orchestra. Her final performance as Chief Conductor of the Flanders Symphony Orchestra will feature Beethoven’ s Symphony No. 4 and Mahler’ s Symphony No. 4. As Music Director of the Orchestre Français des Jeunes, she leads two European tours, with performances at the Opéra de Dijon, BOZAR Brussels, and Philharmonie de Paris, including a special concert for the Biennale des Quatuors à cordes.
Equally prolific in the operatic repertoire, Poska’ s current season features a return to the Norwegian National Opera with Barrie Kosky’ s production of Mozart’ s The Magic Flute.
MAY-JUN 2026 | OVERTURE | 13