The SSO’s season opens on Saturday, October 13^th with a concert that celebrates the Bernstein Centenary.  Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) was one of the greatest and most influential musicians of the last century.   He had strong ties with many cities, most notably New York City and Vienna.  The SSO will begin the concert with Otto Nicolai’s popular Overture to his opera “The Merry Wives of Windsor”.  Nicolai is best known, however, for being a founding member of the famous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in 1842, an orchestra that Bernstein conducted many times.  Beethoven’s First Symphony was recorded twice by Bernstein – once with the New York Philharmonic and once with the Vienna Philharmonic.   It is a groundbreaking symphony that begins on a unique chord and has no slow movement.  The concert’s 2^nd half will begin with Harford County native composer Megan DiGeorgio’s new work “Generations” which will be conducted by her fiancé David Bond.  Bernstein encouraged young composers and often performed their works.  The concert will conclude with orchestral selections from Bernstein’s shows “On the Town” and “West Side Story”, both for and about New York City!