October 21, 2025 By Roy Harris
Atlantic Symphony Orchestra (ASO) opens its new season on Saturday, Oct. 25, with a program of thrilling works highlighted by Mendelssohn’s 5th Symphony (“Reformation”), and a terrific violin soloist playing Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto.
The orchestra, which got its start years ago as the Hingham Symphony, and still is led by that organization’s brilliant conductor, Jin Kim, has put together what he calls a program of “fun, bright, joyous and powerful music,” highlighting a violin piece that’s “an audience favorite for a reason.”
That Tchaikovsky composition will be performed by violinist Adrian Anatawan, internationally renowned for his brilliant playing. Educated at the Curtis Institute of Music, Yale, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, he has had teachers including the phenomenal Itzak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman and Anne-Sophie Mutter. Anatawan has performed at the White House, for opening ceremonies of both the Athens and Vancouver Olympics, and for both Pope John Paul II, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
“We’re honored to present him for the first time with our orchestra,” says ASO executive director Tammy Lynch, who calls Adrian’s playing exquisite—and notes that the violinist, who has only one hand, has overcome his physical hurdles to build an extraordinary international career. Antawan lives on the South Shore when he is not traveling, and teaches at Milton Academy.
Also on this terrific program is a bold, brass-filled Mendelssohn work that celebrates renewal and hope. “Do you love trumpets?” the ASO asks in its promotion of the work. “You’ll love this piece!”
A third number being performed—J.C. Bach’s Overture to La Calamita de’ Cuori—also is a tribute to brass instrumentation, celebrating renewal and hope. Noting that this piece was known to be among Thomas Jefferson’s favorites, the ASO is including it as a tribute to this year’s Rev 250 celebration of that anniversary of United States independence.
Tickets are available at between $48 to $54 for adults and $43 to $53 for seniors, with a $15 student rate. Each ticket comes with a $3.25 processing fee. Tickets may be purchased at the door.
– Roy Harris, a semi-retired journalist who spent most of his career with The Wall Street Journal, lives in the World’s End area of Hingham.