Nashville Symphony celebrates ‘an evening of firsts,’ with two world premieres and a return to live recording

In front of an auditorium of empty seats, the Nashville Symphony runs through a new original composition for the first time.

This rehearsal is the first without a mask mandate, and their expressions show it. The violinists smile at one another as they tackle a particularly challenging run.

“We were dying for the moment we could sit together, breathe together, smile together,” says music director Giancarlo Gurrero.

Starting Thursday night, the Nashville Symphony is celebrating many firsts – two world premieres commissioned for the symphony, and its first live audience recording since before the pandemic.

Guerrero says he and the musicians have all been waiting for this moment – when they could record in front of a live audience again. And this particular performance continues Guerrero’s efforts to experiment with local artists who typically don’t perform classical music.

This time, he partnered with Nashville-based ’80s rock musician, Kip Winger.

“To me, this is one of the great triumphs that we are showcasing not only American music, but made in Nashville,” Guerrero says.

An Evening Of Firsts starts on Thursday night and runs until Saturday at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.