The Las Vegas Philharmonic will open 2027 with a landmark night at Reynolds Hall: “Brahms’ First,” a concert on Saturday, January 16, 2027 at 7:30 PM that features the world premiere of a brand-new piece written for the orchestra’s new era.
Under the baton of Music Director & Conductor Rei Hotoda — in her inaugural season — the program includes James Lee III’s “Exalted Aspirations,” a world premiere dedicated to Hotoda herself. Lee, one of the most celebrated American composers of his generation, composed the piece to celebrate her arrival in Las Vegas.
The evening also brings one of the crown jewels of the violin repertoire: Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, performed by acclaimed violinist William Hagen. The concert closes with Brahms’ mighty Symphony No. 1, the “first” that gives the night its name — a work it took the composer two decades to complete, and which announced him as Beethoven’s heir.
Doors open at 6:00 PM, with a pre-concert lecture at 6:30 PM. The concert takes place at Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave. Tickets are on sale now; call 702.749.2000 for details.
“Brahms’ First” is part of the Las Vegas Philharmonic’s 2026–2027 season, the orchestra’s first under Hotoda’s leadership — a season the ensemble is filling with premieres, guest stars and grand symphonic statements.
Photo: Harrison Keely via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
