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SoundWaves with The Florida Orchestra
For more than 55 years, The Florida Orchestra has been a driving force for cultural arts in the Tampa Bay region. Every work of music, every musician, every composer has a story to tell. SoundWaves with The Florida Orchestra gives those stories a voice, so you can experience a deep, personal connection to the music during a concert or anytime. The non-profit Florida Orchestra is the largest orchestra in the state and the only arts organization that bridges Tampa Bay. TFO exists to INSPIRE – UNITE – EDUCATE as we build community through the power of music onstage and in our schools and community. With 71 full-time professional musicians and conductors, TFO performs more than 100 concerts a season, including a wide range of classical, popular, film, rock and family-friendly music. Performances are at three major performing arts venues: Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg, Straz Center in Tampa and Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. For tickets and information: FloridaOrchestra.org
SoundWaves with The Florida Orchestra
Program Notes: Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2
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This episode traces a path from nature to Beethoven’s first hint of the heroic ideal to a sense of national identity. In Einojuhani Rautavaara’s Cantus Arcticus, recorded birdsong merges with orchestra to create a soundscape that feels both organic and otherworldly. Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 follows, capturing a young composer in transformation — and the first clear signs of his heroic voice. The journey concludes Jean Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2, where fragments of melody gather into a sweeping statement that evokes both the Finnish landscape and a profound sense of national spirit.
Masterworks 12 of the 25/26 Season
Performances May 1-3, 2026