Hannah Edgar

Soloist Ksenija Sidorova and guest conductor Paavo Järvi presented Erkki-Sven Tüür’s “Prophecy” — the 2007 concerto’s U.S. premiere, and the first accordion concerto ever programmed by the CSO.

This weekend's concerts included Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 3 and selections from Italian composer Nino Rota’s scores to “The Godfather” and “The Leopard.” But last weekend's didn't all go smoothly.

Music director-designate Klaus Mäkelä leads the orchestra in an all-Paris program, including Milhaud’s “Le Boeuf sur le Toit,” Gershwin’s "An American in Paris" and Stravinsky’s "The Rite of Spring."

These concerts are double-barreled programs of symphonic epics — both about heroes, and both given early U.S. premieres by the CSO — that he and the orchestra will soon bring...