With most of its 2024-2025 concert season in the rearview mirror, the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra plans to close things out with a passionate finale next week, when it performs its “Romantic Rhapsodies” show at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Community Arts Center, 220 West Fourth Street.

Featuring works from three Romantic era composers — Hector Berlioz, Jean Sibelius and Robert Schumann — the concert promises an uplifting evening of sweeping expressive beauty.

“I am very excited,” said Gerardo Edelstein, WSO conductor. “The program closing our season is a vivid journey through the emotional and stylistic landscape of Romantic music, from festive exuberance and operatic flair to pastoral reverence and icy brilliance.

“Although the three composers are considered from the Romantic period, their styles are completely different, making the program extremely varied and interesting,” Edelstein added. “While Schumann kept the Beethoven traditions, Berlioz was an avant-garde composer and brought new ideas and approaches that influenced the next generation of composers. Sibelius is considered a ‘late’ Romantic, but his violin concerto remains a staple of the solo with orchestra repertoire.”

Under Edelstein’s baton, the WSO will begin the show with Berlioz’s lively “Roman Carnival Overture.” The spirited piece, inspired by Berlioz’s experiences with the days-long party that was the Roman Carnival, will start the show with a “burst of color and theatrical flair,” the conductor said.

“It is a dazzling orchestral showpiece full of energy of Italian festival life,” said Edelstein. “It’s a celebration in sound, full of rhythmic drive, blazing brass, and sweeping lyricism.”

Continuing the program with Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D minor, the WSO will be joined by acclaimed violinist Peter Sirotin. Currently serving as concertmaster of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, Sirotin came “highly recommended by other colleagues,” Edelstein said as he mentioned his great enthusiasm to be collaborating with him for the first time.

“I watched (Sirotin’s) recordings, and I fell in love with his sound and musicality,” said Edelstein. “The orchestra has not played the Sibelius concerto in a while, and I thought it will be fantastic to include it on this program due to its contrast with the other two pieces.”

On the heels of intermission, the WSO will close things out with a performance of Schumann’s Symphony No. 3, “Rhenish.” The joyous piece was inspired by the grandeur of the Rhine River and the majestic architecture of Cologne Cathedral, Edelstein said. He added that the audience will be captivated by its rich melody, rhythmic vitality and emotional depth.

When asked which of the three works being performed is his favorite, Edelstein said it’s impossible for him to put one above the others.

“You cannot go wrong with any of these masterworks,” he said. “Come experience live classical music at the highest level performed by your beloved orchestra!”

For more information or tickets, visit williamsportsymphony.org or call the CAC box office at 570-326-2424.