The Aiken Symphony celebrates the finale of this milestone season with a vibrant, Spanish-inspired program titled Capriccio Espagnol, featuring acclaimed classical guitarist and three-time Grammy® nominee Mak Grgić. This concert takes place Saturday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Etherredge Center.

The evening opens with selections from Carmen (1875) by Parisian Georges Bizet, one of the most beloved operas of all time. Set in Seville, Spain, the music tells the story of the bold, free-spirited Carmen, whose love affairs spark jealousy, obsession, and ultimately a tragic end at the hands of a spurned lover.

The program will continue with the Concierto de Aranjuez (1939) by Joaquín Rodrigo, for solo classical guitar and orchestra and inspired by the gardens of Madrid’s Royal Palace of Aranjuez. In it, Rodrigo sought to evoke “the fragrance of magnolias, the singing of birds, and the gushing of fountains.”

Touted as a “gifted guitarist” by the New York Times, three-time Grammy®-nominated artist Mak Grgić [GER-gich] is a star on the worldwide stage. An expansive and adventurous repertoire attests to his versatility and wide-ranging interests. From the ethnic music of his native Balkans to extreme avant-garde and microtonal music, his roles as soloist, collaborator, and Grammy-nominated recording artist are fueled by curiosity, imagination, and boundless energy.

After the intermission, the program will feature La processión del Rocío (1913) by Joaquín Turina, a tone poem portraying a festive religious procession in Seville’s Triana district. Lush, colorful, and deeply evocative, this work earned Turina widespread acclaim and solidified his place among Spain’s most revered composers.

Closing the season with a bang is Capriccio Espagnol (1887) by Russian-born Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, a lively orchestral suite based on Spanish folk melodies. The work showcases the soloistic talents of several members of the orchestra, especially the concertmaster (similar to Scheherazade). It’s a fitting finale to a season that has celebrated ten years of musical excellence in the Aiken community.

The Aiken Symphony will continue to bring great programming and musicians to Aikenites in its 2025-26 season, An Odyssey of Sound, beginning this September. Subscriptions are now available for purchase here. 

Tickets: Single tickets are either $45 or $60 depending on seat selection. Active military members can receive $10 off per ticket by calling the office. Tickets are available via the website (AikenSymphony.com) or by contacting the office at 803.295.0313 and can be printed at home, presented from a mobile device as an e-ticket, or picked up at the venue an hour and a half before the start of the concert.

Parking: Free parking is available in parking lots “C” and “D” adjacent to the Etherredge Center.

Pre-Concert Talk “Illuminations”: Join Dr. Scott Weiss in the Main Theatre at 6:30 p.m. on the concert day.