An orchestral opener

Thursday night, step into the opening of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra’s 63rd season, and become swept up in the rapture of Maurice Ravel’s počme chorégraphique, La Valse. Experience the unexpected as the waltz tosses the listener from sweet, delicate melodies to pompous ebullience. La Valse is followed by Ludwig van Beethoven’s bombastic Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61, featuring guest violinist Giora Schmidt. Be dazzled by his virtuosity, performing one of the most challenging of violin works ever written due to technically ambitious octaves. The enchantment of Igor Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite completes the evening. Tickets are $25-$55 at brso.org.