This weekend’s Oregon Symphony concerts are going to be special – local snarky publication notwithstanding. First of all, there will be a world premiere of a new piece by Gabriella Smith, entitled Biolumnescence Chaconne. It’s fantastic. The orchestra likes it very much, and our audience in Salem Friday night loved it as well. There’s also an wonderful piece by Missy Mazzoli on the program, Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres), written just a few years back. In addition, one of my favorite violinists on the planet, Augustin Hadelich is back with the outrageous Paganini Violin Concerto No. 1. It’s a silly piece, but Hadelich’s approach is anything but. Virtuosic AF, as the kids say these days. If he plays the encore he did Friday in Salem, it will be magic. Incidentally, our Salem audience gave a standing ovation after the first movement of the Paganini. Not something I’m inclined to endorse, but it showed how effective his playing was! Finally, Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, arr. Ravel. Not much to say about this one – you know what to expect here.