THE CLASSIX SERIES
CARMINA BURANA
Friday, Saturday & Sunday
April 17, 2026
April 18, 2026
April 19, 2026
7:30 PM | Doors 6:00 PM
4:00 PM | Doors 2:30 PM
4:00 PM | Doors 2:30 PM
The Classix Series comes to a triumphant close in the pursuit of happiness, where the program echoes with freedom, resilience, and unrelenting joy. The evening begins with Bernstein’s electrifying On the Waterfront Symphonic Suite, pulsing with cinematic drama and raw intensity. The Reno Phil will proudly unveil a newly commissioned work by Michelle Isaac, written to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The work is inspired by the story of Mary Katherine Goddard, the only woman to sign the historic document—a testament to courage, conviction, and the power of a single voice to shape history. The season reaches its grand finale with Orff’s Carmina Burana, an exhilarating choral tour de force featuring the Reno Phil Chorus and a powerhouse trio of soloists, its thunderous rhythms and ecstatic melodies transform the concert hall into a whirlwind of fate, fortune, and unrestrained joy.
ON THE PROGRAM
Leonard Bernstein On the Waterfront: Symphonic Suite
Michelle Isaac [world premiere, Reno Phil commission]
Carl Orff Carmina Burana
TAKE NOTE: There will be 3 showtimes of this performance. The Saturday performance begins at 4:00 PM.
ashley fabian
soprano
weston hurt
baritone
arnold livingston geis
tenor
LAURA JACKSON
CONDUCTOR
Tickets for 2025-26 Classix Series concerts at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts can only be purchased at this time as part of a Classix 6-concert subscription package.
Single tickets for the 2025-2026 Season go on sale August 4, 2025 at 10:00 AM. For information on group rates, or other ticket discounts, please click here.
INTERESTED IN A PARTNERSHIP, SPONSORSHIP, OR UNDERWRITING OPPORTUNITY?
Contact Evelyn Klatt, Chief Development & Marketing Officer at eklatt@renophil.com
ASHLEY FABIAN, SOPRANO
Acclaimed by the New York Classical Review as “a vision of sunshine and joy”, possessing a “lovely lyric soprano”, Ashley Fabian is quickly garnering recognition for her artistry in both comedic and dramatic roles. She is celebrated for her “voice of immense warmth and scintillating spin” (parterre box), and her command of the stage has been praised by critics and audiences across the nation.
Ms. Fabian looks forward to many debuts in the 2024/25 season, including singing Despina in Cosi fan tutte with Virginia Opera, Ivy Sweet in The Cook-Off with New Orleans Opera, and Carmina Burana with the Tucson Symphony and Knoxville Symphony. She also covers the Soprano Soloist in Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with the San Diego Symphony, and appears in concert with Musica Angelica and the Amadeus Concert Ensemble. She began the 2023/2024 season with a return to the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl in a concert with Chris Thile (Punch Brothers, Nickel Creek), then appeared as Gilda in Rigoletto with Holy City Arts & Lyric Opera, Zerlina in Don Giovanni with San Diego Opera, Chan Parker in Charlie Parker’s Yardbird with Indianapolis Opera, and performances as the Soprano Soloist in Messiah with the Winston-Salem Symphony and Carmina Burana with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Glacier Symphony, and Bozeman Symphony. She also sang the role of Marzelline in Beethoven’s Fidelio in a workshop with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in their collaboration with Deaf West Theater.
ARNOLD LIVINGSTON GEIS
Praised by Opera Today for his “sizable lyric instrument” and “honeyed tone on all registers”, in the 2024/25 season tenor Arnold Livingston Geis returns to the role of Josef Bader in Zigman’s Emigré with Beijing Music Festival, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic. He also joins Opera Carolina for Rodolfo in La bohéme, Cincinnati Opera for Motel in Fiddler on the Roof, Opera in the Heights for his first performances of Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, San Francisco Symphony for Carmina Burana, and the Baltimore Symphony for Tenor I in Stravinsky’s Renard. Last season, he created the role of Josef Bader in the world and US premieres of Aaron Zigman’s new oratorio Emigré, a co-commission by the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. He also sang performances of Carmina Burana with both the Phoenix Symphony and Erie Symphony, and returned to the LA Philharmonic for Mormon/Housmate in Leith’s Last Days. Mr. Geis recently joined LA Master Chorale at Walt Disney Hall for Haydn’s Creation, sang Rodolfo in La bohéme with Greensboro Opera and Pacific Opera Projects, returned to the LA Philharmonic as the Shepherd in Tristan und Isolde, sang his first performances of the title role in La damnation de Faust with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, and returned to Chautauqua Opera for Pirelli in Sweeney Todd.
WESTON HURT, BARITONE
Baritone Weston Hurt makes his anticipated UK debut as Rigoletto with English National Opera this season and debuts as Tonio in Pagliacci with Pensacola Opera. He recently joined The Metropolitan Opera roster, covered Florencia en el Amazonas, and returned to Houston Grand Opera as Sharpless in Madama Butterfly. Other recent roles include Germont (La traviata), Scarpia (Tosca), and concert performances of War Requiem and Verdi’s Requiem.
Hurt has performed leading roles with Seattle Opera, Houston Grand Opera, New Orleans Opera, and Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, among others. Notable engagements include Nabucco, Iago (Otello), Renato (Un ballo in maschera), Ford (Falstaff), and the title role in Rigoletto. A seasoned concert performer, he has appeared internationally, including Carnegie Hall, and worked with top symphonies on major choral works such as Messiah, Carmina Burana, and Britten’s War Requiem.
A graduate of the Juilliard Opera Center, Hurt has earned top awards from the Dallas Opera Guild, George London Foundation, and Oratorio Society of New York, among others.
LAURA JACKSON, CONDUCTOR
An eloquent and articulate artist on and off the podium renowned for her dynamic leadership, energetic performances, and progressive vision, American conductor Laura Jackson is praised for her innovation, passion, and commitment to the continued growth of the symphonic repertoire and expanding music’s impact within communities. Having served as the fourth Music Director and Conductor of the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra (Reno Phil) since 2009, her contract has been unanimously renewed through the end of the 2028-2029 season, ensuring that diverse, compelling repertoire, and creative community programming will continue through the organization’s 60th anniversary. A 21st century conductor at home with repertoire from every era, Jackson is recognized for her championing of new music, her creativity with commissions, and her commitment to mentoring and encouraging the next generation of musicians, composers and women conductors. She is in her third season as an official mentor to emerging women conductors across the globe in the Taki-Alsop Foundation’s Fellowship program. With the Reno Phil, she also partners with the Davidson Institute in Reno, Nevada to feature their instrumental fellows in concert. A frequent guest conductor, she has led distinguished ensembles across the United States, Canada, France, Poland, Czech Republic, Algeria, and China, and her relationships with orchestras continue to expand.
A champion of living composers, Laura Jackson created the Reno Philharmonic’s Composers in Residence initiative and has commissioned and presented several world premieres. She has led over 50 Reno Phil premieres and multiple Western U.S. premieres. Under her leadership, the Reno Phil has expanded its community and education programs to include the Composers in Residence, Conduct Us, movies with live orchestra performances, the annual Play for a Day, and the youth orchestras have expanded from three to four ensembles. Additionally, live streaming of concerts was introduced in 2020. www.laurajackson.net
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*Not ready to attend in person? Purchase an access link for our livestream or video-on-demand and enjoy the concert from the comfort of home!
How to View the Livestream Concert
One day before the concert, ticketholders will receive an email with a link to the video. We recommend you access the link at least 10 minutes before the concert begins. If you do not receive a link, please check your spam & junk folders before contacting the box office. Livestream FAQ & SUPPORT.
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Parking
Patrons have several options for parking near the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts. We recommend the following:
Metered parking (pay Monday-Saturday 9am – 6pm; free evenings after 6pm and on Sundays)
The open parking lot across from the Washoe County Court House (free on evenings and weekends). The entrance is located on Court St, between Virginia and Sierra St.
The parking lot attached to Nevada State Bank (ONLY available free in the evenings and on weekends)
Directions
Directions from I-580 via Mill Street
Take exit 66 for Mill St.
-395 Northbound: exit 66 and turn left at Mill St.
-395 Southbound: exit 66 and turn right at Mill St.
Follow Mill St. about 1.5 miles
Turn left on Lake St.
Turn right on Court St.
The Pioneer Center will be on your right
Directions from I-80 via Virginia Street
Take exit 13 for Downtown Reno/Virginia St.
-I-80 Eastbound: exit 13 and turn right at N. Virginia St.
-I-80 Westbound: exit 13 and turn left at N. Virginia St.
Follow Virginia St. about 1 mile (cross the Truckee River).
The Pioneer Center will be on your left
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The Reno Phil’s community partners donate rooms for out of town musicians, food for events and many other needs. Without their generosity, we would not be able to provide the community with world-class, innovative music performances. We greatly appreciate their contribution to the performing arts, as well as helping keep the costs of concerts reasonable for our ticket buyers. If you’re coming from out of town and plan to stay in Reno after the concert, please consider reserving a room with one of our hotel partners.
We hear from our partners that enjoying a good meal makes our concerts sound better. You should test that theory and let us know! Please consider dining with one of these supporting restaurants before or after a concert. And say thanks for us, too.
Dining
Beaujolais Bistro
Washoe Public House
CentroHotels
Whitney Peak
Renaissance