Coeur d’Alene Symphony opens season

Talk about a monumental Mahler sound.

The Coeur d’Alene Symphony kicks off its new season on Saturday and Sunday with dozens of special guests: the entire Whitworth Symphony Orchestra.

That will mean a total of 116 musicians on stage for Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D major.

David Demand, artistic director of the CdA Symphony, quipped in a press release that he just hopes nobody will “accidentally fall off the stage.” He also wondered whether he’d have to conduct from the aisle.

“We’re going to need every inch to fit everyone up there,” said Demand.

The CdA Symphony will perform Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture” to open the program. Then Whitworth University’s orchestra, directed by Philip Baldwin, will join them for the Mahler piece.

The concert will take place on Saturday, 7:30 p.m., at the Lake City Community Church, 6000 N. Ramsey Road, Coeur d’Alene. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $8 for students and children, available by calling (208) 765-3833 or at Great Harvest Bread Co., 2106 N. Government Way and Burt’s Music, 12th Street and Sherman Avenue in Coeur d’Alene. Tickets will also be available at the door.

The entire program will be repeated on Sunday, 3 p.m., at the Mead High School Auditorium, 302 W. Hastings Road. Tickets for that concert are $10, or $5 for students and seniors, available at the door.