Among the pieces picked by Litton are three works by Charles Ives, including the Fourth Symphony, a piece so massive that it requires two conductors; Janšcek's Glagolithic Mass; Gershwin's Piano Concerto, with Litton at the piano; and Michael Tippett's oratorio A Child of Our Time.
The two world premieres on the schedule, both DSO commissions, are George Tsontakis's Piano Concerto, performed by Stephen Hough, and a work by Robert X. Rodriguez. In addition, the orchestra will perform Jennifer Higdon's Percussion Concerto, co-commissioned by the DSO with the Indianapolis Symphony and the Philadelphia Orchestra, which will give the work's world premiere.
The DSO will also perform the world premiere of a ballet by composer Jonathan Bailey Holland with the Dallas Black Dance Theatre.
Among the guest soloists on the schedule are pianists Andr_ Watts and Lang Lang and cellist Lynn Harrell; guest conductors (some of whom are trying out for Litton's job) include Yan Pascal Tortelier, Philippe Jordan, Andrew Davis, Carlos Kalmar, and Andrey Boreyko.