A free classical music event where the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra performs Stravinsky's Petrushka, accompanied by an on-stage discussion led by Maestro Jun Märkl and Ryan Ahlwardt.
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra brings Stravinsky's Petrushka to the Hilbert Circle Theatre on Thursday, January 7, 2027. It's part of their Into the Music series, which does something a bit different from a standard concert: it pairs a lively on-stage discussion with a full-orchestra performance of a classical work.
That conversation is the first half of the evening. Maestro Jun Märkl co-hosts it with Emmy Award winner Ryan Ahlwardt, and together they walk you through the piece and the composer before the music even starts. They'll give you the background on Petrushka, point out what to listen and watch for during the performance, and share their insights in a relaxed, accessible setting. The idea is to give you a bit of a map for the music, so when the orchestra actually plays, you've got a handle on what's happening.
Once the talking is done, the full orchestra takes over for the performance itself. Petrushka is one of Stravinsky's most famous early works, and hearing it live in the Circle Theatre is a good way to experience it. The whole thing—the discussion and the performance—happens in one night, so you get the context and the music back-to-back.
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The series is free, with the option to pay what you wish to support the ISO. It starts at 8 PM at the Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Cir, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
