Romance, ambition, seduction and unbridled emotion take center stage when Long Beach Symphony presents Entangled in Passion on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 7:30 PM at the Long Beach Terrace Theater. Under the baton of Music Director Eckart Preu and featuring Grammy Award-winning pianist Michelle Cann, the concert brings together three iconic orchestral works that explore the intensity and complexity of human emotion.
From the hypnotic pulse of Maurice Ravel’s Boléro to the dramatic brilliance of Richard Strauss’ Don Juan and the sweeping lyricism of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, the program invites audiences to experience music at its most vivid, visceral and expressive.
Ravel’s Boléro begins with a deceptively simple, repeating rhythm that gradually builds into an exhilarating orchestral crescendo. Layer by layer, the music gathers momentum and intensity, drawing listeners into a powerful wave of sound. Strauss’ Don Juan follows with a dazzling musical portrait of its legendary romantic adventurer, filled with bold gestures, restless energy and brilliant orchestral color—a thrilling depiction of desire and the pursuit of the extraordinary.
At the heart of the evening is Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, one of the most beloved works in the piano repertoire. Its soaring melodies, rich harmonies and virtuosic passages move between intimate tenderness and sweeping grandeur, offering a deeply expressive showcase for Cann. A pianist of exceptional artistry, Grammy Award-winner Michelle Cann has earned international acclaim for her commanding performances and musical sensitivity, bringing both power and nuance to one of classical music’s most enduring masterpieces.
Together, these contrasting works create a compelling musical journey through desire, drama and the extraordinary power of the orchestra to stir the imagination. Whether drawn to the hypnotic rhythms of Boléro, the bold storytelling of Don Juan or the emotional sweep of Rachmaninoff, audiences can expect an evening of musical fire, romance and exhilaration.
The experience begins before the first note. Long Beach Symphony invites concertgoers to arrive early and enjoy the atmosphere of the Terrace Theater, where the evening includes a live Prelude Ensemble in the lobby, a complimentary pre-concert talk with Preu at 6:30 PM, and The 3rd Space—a welcoming place to socialize and connect with fellow music lovers. With the Symphony’s Sip & Enjoy concert hall experience, guests can relax with a drink in hand and make an evening of it.
From the first conversation in the lobby to the final orchestral crescendo, Entangled in Passion offers an opportunity to connect with music, with one another and with the full emotional force of live orchestral performance.
Celebrating its 92nd season, Long Beach Symphony is the premier producer of live music in the greater Long Beach region and one of Southern California’s most renowned professional regional orchestras. Its vision is to unite people through the transformative power of music by engaging audiences of all ages and cultures through exceptional orchestral performances, community partnerships and meaningful educational experiences. Led by Music Director Eckart Preu, the Symphony serves approximately 70,000 community members annually through its Classical, Pops, and SoundWaves series and education programs.
More information available at Long Beach Symphony.org.