Speak Softly

Experience the unforgettable recording “Speak Softly” as the Ulster Orchestra, led by Music Director Laureate Daniele Rustioni, celebrates its 60th anniversary with an extraordinary repertoire. The evening opens with the unmistakable trumpet line from Nino Rota’s “The Godfather Suite,” a lone voice that mourns a fading world before blossoming into a vibrant landscape of Italian folk color and romance. From there, the orchestra ventures into Mario Castelnuovo‑Tedesco’s “Violin Concerto No. 2 The Prophets,” a blazing homage to Jewish cultural pride and identity composed at a time when that pride was becoming perilous. The program culminates with Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 6 Pathétique,” conducted by the composer a mere nine days before his death, and closed in an extraordinarily moving silence that lingers long after the final note. Frantic violinist Francesca Dego lends her virtuosity throughout, making this performance a must‑see for music lovers. Details & tickets available.