“Fantastic!” “Superb!” “Outstanding!” The consensus of the audience who attended the concert on Saturday, Feb. 28, was that the concert indeed dazzled them. The second concert of the 2025-2026 season, conducted by Susan Thiriot, was truly a success.

The presentation was entitled “The New World.” It reflects Dvorak’s reflections on the differences between the new world, America, and his Bohemian background. Between pieces, the host, Mark Guertin, shared anecdotes about the composers and provided a backdrop for the ensuing performances. As an added effect, he added tidbits of information, further entertaining the patrons. For example, the history of the can-can included the attire of the female dancers, which caused some women to be arrested.

“The Theme from Swan Lake,” one of the most famous ballets of all time, was the second performance, combining the sounds of the instruments to evoke a sense of serenity.

Saundra Horne gave an outstanding solo performance of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto. During the short break, Thiriot gave a tribute to Dr. Selmer Spitzer. “He was the one who made all of this possible,” she said. She discussed the importance of community groups, helping all those with various skill levels. It is under her leadership that the symphony now has teens participating.

Thiriot reflected upon the mission of the Southern Nevada Symphony. “Our mission is to share our compassion and dedication for music with everyone. Our purpose is to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to experience live music through professional concert performances.” What makes a concert in Mesquite special isn’t just the music; it’s the community.

The entrance aria of the title character in scene five of the first act of “Carmen” was the next piece. Guertin shared the fact that Georges Bizet suffered a heart attack “midway through Carmen’s opening run of performances and died.”

After intermission, the orchestra presented Beethoven’s “stirring overture” from “Egmont,” which became the unofficial anthem of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. One patron was so fascinated with Guertin’s comments about music and political upheavals that she researched how music and songs shaped political movements.

To end the evening, the orchestra performed the first movement of Dvorak’s ‘New World’ Symphony. The piece combines African American and Native American melodies with European classical music forms and the audience was enraptured for the entire 15 minute duration.

As the audience stood and applauded the entire performance, Thiriot led the orchestra into an encore. Guertin then informed the audience of the upcoming concert on April 25, “It’s Time,” featuring music from beloved favorites. It will be the final concert of the 2025-26 season.