David Fung will play piano with the Vallejo Symphony Orchestra for its performance of Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 2” on Oct. 14. (Courtesy photo)

Vallejo Symphony Orchestra is set to kick off its 2018-19 season on Oct. 14, and the star appears to be Ludwig van Beethoven. Three of the composer’s “Lenore” overtures from his opera “Fidelio” will be performed at all of VSO’s concerts this season.

However, Beethoven will not be the only musician showcased by the VSO this season. Concertgoers will be treated to the melodies and arrangements of several of the many composers inspired by Beethoven. The first concert, titled “Vibrant,” will feature renditions of Dmitri Shostakovich’s First Symphony and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto. The latter performance will feature special guest David Fung on the titular keyboard.

Fung is a concert pianist who was exposed to orchestral music at an early age and essentially considers it a part of his DNA. He said his father would always play recordings of Russian symphonies by the likes of Modest Mussorgsky and Pyotr Tchaikovsky, and his mother was a singer.

“There was always music around the house,” he said. “My brother and I would play violin and piano growing up, so there wasn’t really a moment where I fell in love with music. It was just around, and I kind of lived and breathed it every day.”

Fung eventually decided to pursue music professionally, and he has never looked back. He considers music to be a rejuvenating feeling and one that sparks a lot of positive emotions.

“It’s nourishing for the soul,” he said. “It brings an incredible amount of joy to my life, and I know classical music brings joy to many lives that I’ve seen.”

Fung’s talents have taken him all over the globe, starting with several performances in Australia where he was raised. In 2002, he won the ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards, which included a rendition of another Rachmaninoff piece, “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini,” at the Sydney Opera House. Since then, he has performed with symphonies in Israel, Belgium, Taiwan, San Diego, Cleveland and San Francisco. He also has performed at such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Wigmore in London and Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh. Fung said his favorite venues have been the older concert halls such as the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. He also has enjoyed playing in outdoor venues.

“Every time I go somewhere, there’s always something different to love about the venue,” he said. “It could be that it’s a beautiful setting, it could be that the architecture is interesting. Often times, I’m excited about the acoustics.”

Fung had gotten to know VSO Music Director Marc Taddei when they performed together in Australia, and Taddei invited him to perform with VSO.

“I was absolutely delighted,” Fung said. “I hadn’t seen him in a number of years, although we’ve always kept in touch. I’m very honored and happy to be a guest soloist.”

Fung enjoys the Rachmaninoff concerto for its lush orchestration.

“It’s such a beautifully orchestrated tenor concerto,” he said. “In some ways, it’s like a symphony…I really enjoy being able to play with that right next to me. It’s always exciting and always fresh.”

Moreover, Fung said, audiences will recognize the concerto for its extensive use in popular culture. It has appeared on the soundtracks to classic Hollywood movies like “Grand Hotel” and “The Seven Year Itch,” and the themes have been reworked into popular songs like Frank Sinatra’s “Full Moon and Empty Arms” and Eric Carmen’s “All By Myself.”

“I really think audiences will have their Hollywood moment,” he said.

“Vibrant” will be performed at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14. The second concert, “Individual,” will be performed Sunday, Feb. 10 and feature the second of Beethoven’s “Lenore” overtures as well as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Third Violin Concerto as well as Carl Nielsen’s 5th Symphony. The third concert on March 30 and 31, “Profound,” will feature the third “Lenore” overture, Jean Sibelius’ Seventh Symphony and Gabriel Faure’s “Requiem.” The latter two concerts will feature guest appearances by soloist Livia Sohn, soprano Shawnette Sulker, baritone Brad Walker and the American Canyon High School Chamber Choir. All concerts will be performed at the Empress Theatre, located at 330 Virginia St. For tickets and more information, go to vallejosymphony.org or call 643-4441.

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