Three composers, three visions of spring — performed by James D’León and his audience-favorite ensemble in a program that celebrates the renewal of the season.
PRESCOTT, Ariz. – On Sunday, March 15, 2026, Arizona Philharmonic invites audiences to step into springtime with a concert where fire, light and renewal unfold through three distinct musical voices. “Colors in Spring,” the next concert of AZ Phil’s Season 8: USA 250, will feature the return of Double Steinway Artist James D’León, joined by violinist Luke Hill and cellist Wesley Skinner for an electrifying afternoon of chamber music that captures the awakening energy of spring. The concert will take place at 3 p.m. at the Ruth Street Theater (1050 Ruth Street, Prescott, Arizona 86301), with a 2 p.m. pre-concert talk offering audiences deeper insight into the music and its remarkable connections.
The vibrant program will feature:
- Jennifer Higdon – Piano Trio (2003)
- Sergei Rachmaninoff – Sonata for Cello and Piano in G Minor, Op. 19 (1901)
- Felix Mendelssohn – Piano Trio in C Minor, Op. 66 (1845)
Together, these works trace a journey through color, intensity and transformation, echoing the creative spark and renewal that define the spring season.
Three Visions of Spring
The program will open with Jennifer Higdon’s Piano Trio, a striking exploration of musical color. In movements titled “Pale Yellow” and “Fiery Red,” Higdon transforms hue into sound – one luminous and serene, the other bold and rhythmically charged. As one of America’s most celebrated living composers, she represents a powerful modern voice in AZ Phil’s American Composers season honoring the nation’s 250th year.
“With Higdon’s Piano Trio, you’re listening with your inner eye as much as your ears,” said Henry Flurry, AZ Phil Artistic Director. “Audiences will enjoy how physical and immediate it feels.”
Written during a period of personal and creative renewal, Rachmaninoff’s Sonata for Cello and Piano in G Minor, Op. 19 features sweeping melodies and a rich interplay between cello and piano that give the work both emotional depth and expressive power. The program will then conclude with Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio in C Minor, Op. 66, a work of urgency and passion. Moving from stormy tension to radiant release, the trio will culminate in a triumphant chorale that brings the afternoon to an uplifting close.
“Rachmaninoff’s Sonata for Cello and Piano is lyrical, sweeping, and deeply heartfelt, while Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio in C Minor will close the program with brilliance and drive,” noted Flurry.
A Conversation Across Time
For James D’León, the program’s emotional arc is intentional.
“In my programming, I love discovering connections between the works,” he said. “In this case, each piece offers a different kind of artistic momentum – Higdon expands her voice into chamber music, Rachmaninoff reclaims his after silence and Mendelssohn composes with urgency and lyrical depth at the height of his powers.”
In addition, this concert continues Arizona Philharmonic’s exploration of Mendelssohn’s chamber music this season. On February 15, audiences heard his youthful String Quartet in A Minor; on March 15, they will encounter one of his final and most powerful chamber works – offering a rare opportunity to experience the composer’s brilliance both at the beginning and height of his creative voice.
To learn more and purchase tickets for “Colors in Spring,” please visit https://azphil.org/colors-in-spring/.
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About Arizona Philharmonic:
Arizona Philharmonic is Prescott’s only professional orchestra, connecting people of all backgrounds with meaningful musical experiences through live performance, education and community engagement. The 2025–2026 season honors America’s 250th year by featuring American composers at every concert, highlighting the diversity and richness of the musical voices that have shaped the nation’s classical tradition. For more information, visit https://azphil.org.