LEWISTON – John Ferrillo, principal oboe of the Boston Symphony, will join the Midcoast Symphony as soloist in the orchestra’s final concerts of the season Saturday and Sunday, May 17-18.

The concerts will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Franco-American Heritage Center in Lewiston and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Orion Performing Arts Center in Topsham.

Ferrillo will perform the Concerto in D major for Oboe by Richard Strauss. This highly lyrical concerto written in 1945 was one of the composer’s last works. It is one of the loveliest in the orchestral literature for the instrument. However, it is not performed often because its long melodic phrases require exceptional technique and breath control. Thus, only virtuosos of the instrument can play it. Ferrillo last performed the work with conductor James Levine and the Boston Symphony in the 2004-2005 season.

Before joining the Boston Symphony in 2001, Ferrillo was principal oboe with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for 15 years, and before that was a member of the San Francisco Symphony.

The Midcoast Symphony’s program will also include Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 1 in G minor, often called the “Winter Dreams” Symphony, and Franz Schubert’s Rosamunde Ballet Music No. 2. The program will be conducted by Rohan Smith, the orchestra’s music director.

Tickets are $14 at the door, $12 in advance. Anyone 21 or younger will be admitted free. For tickets or more information, visit www.midcoastsymphony.org or call 371-2780.