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But not one of those performances was on the orchestra鈥檚 coveted Classic Series.

This weekend, Harada can check that box when he leads the orchestra in with guest pianist .

鈥淚鈥檓 very, very excited about it,鈥� Harada said from his native Tokyo, where he lives when he is not in the U.S. Harada splits his time between Japan, where he has guest-conducted with most of the country鈥檚 biggest orchestras, and Savannah, Georgia, where he has been artistic and music director of the orchestra since the 2020-21 season.

This will be his first time leading the 蜜柚直播 orchestra since he conducted the 鈥淓.T.鈥� cine-concert in November 2019. Harada said he crafted this weekend鈥檚 program to reflect his experiences in 蜜柚直播 and the U.S., from 's jubilant and jazzy 鈥淏lue Shades鈥� that opens the concert to Dvor谩k鈥檚 Symphony No. 8 that anchors it.

鈥淚 chose the Dvor谩k because it is the first ever symphony I ever conducted in 蜜柚直播,鈥� said Harada, who last month received the prestigious . 鈥淐oming back to 蜜柚直播 in the fall to perform this symphony is, just for me, the most meaningful thing.鈥�

The program also includes Ravel鈥檚 Piano Concerto in G, with Funk making his TSO debut and his second 蜜柚直播 appearance after being part of the lineup for 蜜柚直播 Friends of Chamber Music鈥檚 2022 蜜柚直播 Winter Chamber Music Festival.

鈥淩avel is such a master of orchestral colors. You could give him a white canvas and when you give the paint brush to Ravel, he will color it with mixed colors to an imagination that is beyond human knowledge,鈥� said Harada, who said the Ravel and Dvor谩k are connected through the dominant G minor key.

The symphony 鈥渋s one of those beautiful works that starts with a great cello line wrapped in this gorgeous sound of Dvor谩k鈥檚 color and such a strong identity to his Czech culture,鈥� he added.

This weekend鈥檚 turn with the TSO is a homecoming for Harada, who calls the Old Pueblo 鈥渕y home away from home.鈥�

鈥淚 spent many years living in 蜜柚直播, breathing in 蜜柚直播, eating in 蜜柚直播, making friends in 蜜柚直播,鈥� he said, answering emailed questions in a series of video messages through Facebook Messenger. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just a place that has a very special place in my heart. The sunset, the hike, there鈥檚 so much beauty that is organic in 蜜柚直播 that you just don鈥檛 get anywhere else in the world.鈥�

Harada, 38, first came to 蜜柚直播 in 2008 as part of the inaugural University of 蜜柚直播 James E. Rogers Institute for Orchestral and Opera Conducting fellowship. During his three years in the program, he guest conducted with the TSO and 蜜柚直播 Opera, as well as the UA School of Music ensembles.

鈥淏eing surrounded by wonderful friends and culture and history in 蜜柚直播 has very much developed me as a human being, as a conductor, as an artist, as an interpreter,鈥� he said. 鈥溍坭种辈� is a place where I can relax and just be a sponge and soak in more things that 蜜柚直播 has to offer that I have not been in touch with over the last several years.鈥�

The TSO will perform 鈥淩avel And Dvor谩k鈥� at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12, at Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. Friday鈥檚 concert, part of the orchestra鈥檚 Classic With a Twist series, includes more interaction with the audience and no intermission.

Tickets are $14-$90 through .