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Many orchestral works inspired by Shakespeare are for huge orchestral forces, but this week hear two works by American composers that are equally inspired but expressed in smaller forms.

Charles Ives was decades ahead of his time in his unconventional compositions. Hear his amazing “Concord Sonata” for piano, an original organ composition written at age 15, and a recording of the man himself singing and playing the piano.

An overdue return to “Gems of the Repertoire” with a program of great 19th century overtures by Thomas, German, Mendelssohn, Strauss, Lalo, and Suppé. It’s Romantic era music that’s both dramatic and exciting.

Hear the music of Richard Wagner in virtuoso transcriptions for symphonic band. Wagner himself heard his music played by bands and approved of the adaptation. After hearing these compelling performances, you’ll have a thrilling new perspective on his music.

Dynamic works by Ernest Bloch and Bela Bartok show that music for large string orchestras can be incredibly powerful, especially when interpreted by master conductors like Rafael Kubelik and Constantin Silvestri.

We’re celebrating July 4th with musical Americana! Hear music by Aaron Copland, William Schuman, Samuel Augustus Ward and a healthy dose of John Philip Sousa. It’s a time to celebrate and a time to remember.

We know Antonín Dvořák’s music mostly from his wonderful symphonies and large orchestral works. This week we’ll hear one of his most ambitious chamber works, his Piano Quintet in A major. We’ll also have one of those wonderful, thrilling big orchestral works for which he’s deservedly known.

There’s a wealth of delightful ballet music that doesn't reach the limelight. This week's show includes music by Charles Lecoq, Camille Saint-Saens, and Amilcare Ponchielli. We have new discoveries and one of the most well-known works in the classical repertoire – but no dancing hippos this time.

We’re overdue for a show featuring music of Bach, so we're making it happen! Hear one of his delightful French Suites for keyboard, his most popular secular cantata, and a couple of other delights. As Radar O’Reilly from M*A*S*H once said, “Ahhhhhhhh, Bach.”

Tone poems are almost like film scores before there was film, portraying scenes from literature or an event through music. Hear remarkable tone poems by Ernest Chausson, Steven Stucky, and Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky.