The Orchestre symphonique de Québec (OSQ), directed by Clemens Schuldt (centre), launched the 2024-2025 season with a gala concert at the Grand Théâtre on Sept. 18. The program opened with Antonín Dvořák’s delightful Carnival overture. A grand piano was then rolled onstage for award-winning Canadian pianist Bruce Liu who, accompanied by the orchestra, performed Sergei Prokofiev’s devilishly difficult Piano Concerto No. 3. After a brief intermission, the orchestra launched into Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6, also known as La Pathétique. Originally entitled The Passionate Symphony, employing the Russian word “pateticheskaya,” meaning “passionate” or “emotional,” it was later translated into French as “pathétique,” meaning “solemn” or “emotive.” Following this, Schuldt and Liu gave a surprise mini-concert in the theatre lobby, playing a four-handed piano composition. Schuldt, with a clarinetist and violinist of the OSQ, then performed The Klezmer’s Wedding by Srul Irving Glick. (SN) (Photo by Shirley Nadeau)