Riddles & Themes

Sunday, December 14, 2025, at 1:30 PM

William Waag Conducting

Admission is free and donations are appreciated.
Parking available at the venue

Join us for an afternoon of captivating orchestral storytelling, where Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Edward Elgar explore identity, mystery, and emotion through masterful sets of variations that resonate across time and tradition.

Symphonic Variations on an African Air 
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's Symphonic Variations on an African Air reveals the brilliance of a composer whose music bridged cultures and eras. A gifted orchestrator, Coleridge-Taylor crafts a compelling set of variations that evolve with invention and grace. Each transformation of the theme explores new emotional dimensions, showcasing the orchestra's color and versatility. As one of the most celebrated Black composers of his time, Coleridge-Taylor infused classical forms with personal and cultural resonance, leaving behind a legacy of beauty and depth.

Variations on an Original Theme
Edward Elgar

Edward Elgar's Variations on an Original Theme, popularly known as the Enigma Variations, remains one of the most endearing and enigmatic works in the orchestral canon. Written between 1898 and 1899, the piece presents fourteen character sketches of Elgar's friends and loved ones, each captured in music with remarkable wit and affection. At its heart lies the mysterious "enigma"—a hidden theme that Elgar hinted at but never revealed. The variations range from playful to deeply moving, culminating in the majestic finale "E.D.U."