PENRITH Symphony Orchestra’s final Symphonic Series concert for 2026, Death & Fate, comes to the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre on November 7.

PSO are excited to welcome acclaimed Australian pianist Vatche Jambazian, who will appear as soloist in Liszt’s Totentanz. The concept underpinning the ‘danse macabre’ gripped imaginations since the Middle Ages, with artists frequently exploring and revisiting the genre. Liszt’s contribution to the form unleashes both piano and orchestra with apocalyptic force in a bravura showpiece.

Vatche is lauded by audiences and critics alike, “…It was a physical performance as much as it was musical and Jambazian’s backbreaking playing style kept eyes pinned as he shredded on the keys like a man possessed.”

A graduate of The Juilliard School and Sydney Conservatorium of Music, he has performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout Australia, North America, Europe and Asia, appearing at venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Sydney Opera House. Vatche has collaborated with artists, ensembles and orchestras including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Omega Ensemble, Australian Youth Orchestra and Penrith Symphony Orchestra, his repertoire spanning the piano and chamber music canon, alongside a strong commitment to contemporary music.

The innovative and gripping music of Wagner also features in the program, with a series of highlights from his operatic works, before an audience favourite in Saint-Saens Danse Macabre. Grieg’s much-loved Peer Gynt rounds out a dramatic and vivid program that grapples with big ideas through beautiful music.

Grieg’s score was originally created as incidental music to the Henryk Ibsen play, but audiences ever since have enjoyed the music of Peer Gynt in its stand-alone suite form – from the melodic, calm reverie of Morning, to the irrepressible manic energy of In the Hall of The Mountain King. This work, alongside the excitement of Wagner’s Flying Dutchman Overture, as well moments from Rienzi and Lohengrin, showcases the orchestra and it’s wonderful players.

Death & Fate is a concert not to be missed. The orchestra, led by maestro Paul Terracini takes to the stage Saturday 7 November at 7 30PM at the Joan. Tickets are available at the box office, thejoan.com.au or call 4723 7600.