‘A Night in Italy’ on Oct. 11 Kicks Off SSO’s 2025-26 Season

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Symphony Orchestra’s (SSO) opening night on Saturday, Oct. 11, “A Night in Italy,” will feature music from The Godfather, cannolis, wine, and much more at Springfield Symphony Hall.

Tickets for opening night and season subscriptions are available at springfieldsymphony.org or by calling the SSO box office at (413) 733-2291.

Concertgoers are invited to purchase tickets to an Italian-themed pre-concert reception at 6 p.m. in the Mahogany Room, hosted in partnership with Springfield’s Italian Cultural Center. The reception will feature sweets and treats from local Italian eateries La Fiorentina and Frigo’s, and a sampling of Italian wines paired with a charcuterie board. Limited tickets are available for the pre-concert reception, which are $25, and should be reserved in advance at springfieldsymphony.org or by calling (413) 733-2291.

There will also be a classical conversation with guest conductor and SSO Artistic Advisor Mei-Ann Chen starting at 6:30 p.m. in the hall.

“A Night in Italy: Verdi, Respighi, & Rota” will be highlighted by “The Godfather Orchestral Suite,” exciting fans of the movie franchise. The audience will also witness a meaningful collaboration with members of the Springfield Symphony Youth Orchestras performing alongside the SSO musicians.

Opening night will also honor the memory of Ron Weiss, a long-serving member of the SSO board of directors who passed away earlier this year.

According to Heather Caisse-Roberts, president and CEO of the SSO, “Springfield has such deep-rooted, rich Italian history, and so we’re thrilled that our opening night not only offers our community the opportunity to experience iconic Italian music, but also to experience Italian culture through our partnership with the Italian Cultural Center. We invite concertgoers to come before the concert to a reception in the Mahogany Room, featuring some of the amazing Italian offerings we’re lucky to have right here in Springfield, including delicious eats from Frigo’s and La Fiorentina.”

Established in 1985, the Italian Cultural Center of Western Massachusetts was founded to promote and celebrate Italian culture and heritage in all its aspects, bringing various Italian cultural groups under one umbrella. It promotes Italian language, music lessons, scholarship, and exchange students. Its original location was on Acushnet Ave., and in 2008, the center moved to its current location at 56 Margaret St.

The SSO’s 2025-26 season, its 82nd, will offer eight performances at Springfield Symphony Hall, filled with a blend of classics, audience favorites, and fresh repertoire. This season will provide audiences with new formats and creative programming, responding to the community’s desire to feature more pops and hybrid (blending classical and pop) performances. MassMutual and Massachusetts Cultural Council are the season sponsors for the 2025-26 season.