PRIZE-WINNING CELLIST: Pablo Ferrández comes back to Princeton to perform Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in B Minor with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra on March 5 and 6.

On Saturday, March 5 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 6 at 4 p.m., the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) welcomes Spanish cellist Pablo Ferrández back to Princeton for a performance of Antonín Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in B Minor. Edward T. Cone Music Director Rossen Milanov conducts the program, which includes contemporary composer James Lee III’s recent work Amer’ican, and Igor Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite (1919). Performances take place at Richardson Auditorium on the campus of Princeton University.

“I am so looking forward to welcoming audiences back to our acoustically spectacular musical home — Richardson Auditorium — and to share the stage with the brilliant musician and our friend, the cellist Pablo Ferrández in Dvorak’s beloved concerto,” said Milanov.

Prizewinner at the XV International Tchaikovsky Competition and SONY Classical exclusive artist, Pablo Ferrández released his debut album last year under SONY Classical, “Reflections,” which explores his musical roots and the unexpected similarities between Russian and Spanish music at the beginning of the 20th century. The album earned him the Opus Klassik Award 2021 in the category of “Young Artist of the Year.”

Recent highlights include debuts at the Hollywood Bowl with Los Angeles Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel, with Bayersichen Rundfunk Symphony Orchestra under Daniele Gatti, performances of the Brahms Double Concerto and Beethoven Triple Concerto with Anne-Sophie Mutter, and appearances with the London Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Vienna Symphony, and Orchestre National de France, among others.

Composer James Lee III, born 1975 in St. Joseph, Michigan, cites as his major composition teachers Michael Daugherty, William Bolcom, Bright Sheng, Betsy Jolas, Susan Botti, Erik Santos, and James Aikman. His orchestral works have been commissioned and premiered by the National Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony Orchestra, and the orchestras of Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Omaha, Pasadena, Memphis, Grand Rapids, Cincinnati, Atlanta, and Akron.

Tickets start at $20, youth (ages 5-17) are half price, and may be ordered through the Princeton Symphony Orchestra website at princetonsymphony.org or by calling (609 497-0020.