PEORIA SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES PERFORMANCE OF “CARMEN’S KISS”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PEORIA, IL | February 10, 2026 – The Peoria Symphony Orchestra is excited to announce the performance of Carmen’s Kiss at the Prairie Home Alliance Theater at the Peoria Civic Center on February 20th, at 7:30 pm.
“Welcome to Carmen’s Kiss, a performance steeped in passion, drama, and romance. Named after one of opera’s most famous characters, the Romani femme-fatale Carmen, it exemplifies the romantic era’s fascination with all things exotic, heroic, dangerous, and inexplicable.” – Maestro Stelluto
The PSO will lead with William Tell, Gioacchino Rossini’s last and largest opera overtures. Transitioning from this piece, the Orchestra moves to reworkings of George Bizet’s Carmen, a renowned opera that rose rapidly in popularity following the untimely death of Bizet in the late 19th century. Alongside the Orchestra, guest violinist Victor Romanul will play “Carmen Fantasy” & “Carmen Suite No.1.” – an iconic pair of works by Spanish virtuoso Pablo de Sarasate. Romanul closes with Niccolò Paganini’s signature piece “Violin Concerto No.1” which wasn’t published until after Paganini’s passing, in part due to overprotection of his works from rival players.
Victor Romanul started with the Pittsburgh Symphony at 21. He then joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1992, taking on the role of Assistant Concertmaster from 1993-1995. He played with the BSO for 32 years, performing concerts around the U.S. and the globe. Recently, he has been involved in several televised video streamed performances of pieces by Paganini, Sauret, the Bach Chaconne, and Korngold from the Symphony Hall Stage.
“So, let’s take a journey back to that time – before recordings, before AI, before computers – to a time when everything was performed live and theaters and concert halls could barely slake the public’s thirst for high culture.” – Maestro Stelluto
Tickets are just $15 for Students and range from $34 – $82 for Adults. They can be purchased by navigating to the Peoria Symphony website or by calling the main phone line at 309-671-1096 to avoid Ticketmaster fees.
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About Peoria Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1897, the Peoria Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, not-for-profit
organization whose mission is to entertain, educate, and inspire through music. The PSO
presents excellent live musical performances, innovative music education programs, and
engaging community outreach efforts, which significantly impact the cultural and economic
vitality of Central Illinois.
For media inquires or more information
Ashley Hade, Marketing & Sales Manager
Email: ashley@peoriasymphony.org // Direct line: 309-465-1563
