Amadeus Concert Ensemble’s 2025-2026 season of FREE community concerts reaches a climax on Sunday, May 31, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. with RACHMANINOFF & FRIENDS. The program honors the composer whose statue in World’s Fair Park commemorates his final piano recital in Knoxville in 1943. The performance, under the baton of ACE Artistic Director Brian Salesky, is part of the Cathedral Concert Series at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (711 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN).

The lavish, romantic program stars the spectacular soprano Ashley Fabian (“immense warmth and scintillating spin”/Parterre Box) who scored a triumph in ACE’S GOLDEN AGE OF STRAUSS concert last season. Ms. Fabian will be heard in heavenly songs and dramatic arias by Rachmaninoff, Alyabyev, and Tchaikovsky, whose Waltz from his Sleeping Beauty ballet will be dedicated to Knoxville’s Mary Costa, Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. The Amadeus Concert Ensemble orchestra will be featured in three thrilling, popular works: Glinka’s Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumblebee” and “The Three Wonders” from The Tale of Tsar Saltan.

Maestro Salesky remarked: “ACE is privileged to present soprano Ashley Fabian in a concert of thrilling music by Russian composers that features her sublime, sparkling voice. The performance will give our community an opportunity to experience Ashley’s inspiring talent in both well-known and rarely performed music. We are deeply grateful to our generous sponsors for their support which allows us to present our programs without charge.”