In this program, heroism collides with lyricism, and orchestral colors paint a whole gallery of strong characters. Beethoven, Wagner, Richard Strauss, Massenet, Cherepnin, and Evgeny Petrov come together in a thoughtful musical narrative where academic music sounds bright, dramatic, vivid, and truly captivating. There are concerts that are perceived as a sequence of familiar names, and there are evenings with an internal storyline where each composition supports the overall idea. Here, the program is constructed precisely in this way. The focus is on male and female images in academic music, shown through the contrast of strength, passion, nobility, anxiety, and dreams. This principle makes the perception especially engaging: the listener follows not only the change of pieces but also the development of a large emotional pattern. The evening opens with Beethoven's overture "Coriolan" - sharp, focused music filled with a sense of tragic choice. Then, the line of drama continues in Wagner's scene from "Tannhäuser," where the orchestra reveals sensuality and theatrical power. Alongside these pages, Richard Strauss's symphonic poem "Don Juan" sounds particularly expressive. It conveys brilliance, impulse, forward movement, and the gradual internal exhaustion of the hero. The female line of the program is constructed no less interestingly. Massenet's overture "Phèdre" refers to ancient tragedy and reveals drama through rich orchestral speech. Cherepnin's prelude "Princess of Dreams" transports the listener into a space of delicate states, dreams, and elevated feelings. A modern accent is introduced by Evgeny Petrov's "Song of Roland" - a symphonic legend for trumpet and orchestra. The source separately notes the trumpet, accordion, and horn, promising particularly vivid sound. At the podium is Ivan Stolbov, and on stage is the Symphony Orchestra of the St. Petersburg Capella. Together they assemble a program where each piece works towards the common idea, and the contrasts between them make the impression especially strong. This is an evening for attentive listeners.