Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet. Press photo

The San Diego Symphony‘s 2017-18 season opens Friday night with “The Hero’s Life,” a program of romantic works by Richard Wagner, Franz Liszt and Richard Strauss.

Dutch conductor Edo de Waart and pianist Jean-Yves Thidaubet will perform Wagner’s “Prelude to Die Meistersinger,” Liszt’s “Piano Concerto No. 2” and Strauss’ “Ein Heldenleben” at 8 p.m. Friday and again at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Last year, de Waart’s concert was one of the most popular of the symphony’s 2016-17 season, and he will both open and close the 2017-18 season.

The conductor, currently music director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, is one of a number of guest conductors who will lead the San Diego orchestra during its search for a successor to Jahja Ling.

Each program of this season’s signature Jacobs Masterworks series is grouped under a theme. The next is “Romance, Mystery, Marsalis” on Oct. 27 and 29 followed by “Fabulous France” on Nov. 11 and 12.

The new season at Copley Symphony Hall also includes a jazz series and family concerts.

Chris Jennewein is founder and senior editor of Times of San Diego.