PORTLAND — The Portland Symphony Orchestra opens its 83rd season with two performances featuring the music of Michael Torke, Beethoven and Brahms, and a guest appearance by pianist Awadagin Pratt.

The season opens at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 2 with a concert at Merrill Auditorium under the direction of Robert Moody. The symphony repeats the program at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4.

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Awadagin Pratt, known for his intense performances, helps open the PSO’s 83rd season. Courtesy Portland Symphony Orchestra

The program opens with Torke’s “Bright Blue Music,” and Pratt, who is noted for his musical insight and intense performances, follows with a performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor.” It concludes with Brahms’ Symphony No. 4, a masterwork.

Students are invited to a dress rehearsal at 2 p.m. Saturday. A question-and-answer session with Pratt will follow his portion of the rehearsal at 3:30 p.m. MPBN’s Suzanne Nance will moderate the discussion, which will be simulcast live on MPBN’s website (mpbn.net). Admission is free, but reservations are required. Visit portlandsymphony.org for details.

Both performances will be preceded by a Concert Conversation with Moody and Pratt an hour and 15 minutes prior to each concert’s starting time — at 1:15 p.m. Oct. 2 and 6:15 p.m. Oct. 4. Both concerts will be followed by a Q&A on stage with Moody, Pratt and PSO pianist Janet Reeves.

Tickets range from $17 to $70, and are available through PortTIX at 842-0800 or porttix.com. Tickets may also be purchased at the box office at 20 Myrtle St.

Looking ahead, the first PSP Pops! concert of the season will be 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8 and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 9, featuring the 80-voice U.S. Naval Academy Men’s Glee Club. Moody will conduct the concert, which will feature patriotic songs, Broadway tunes, classical showpieces and sea chanteys.

For season information, visit portlandsymphony.org.

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