PORTLAND — The Portland Symphony Orchestra’s first concert of 2010 will take the audience on an inspirational and moving journey of “Head and Heart.” The performance pairs the heartfelt poignancy of Ravel’s musical lament “Pavane pour une enfante defunte (Pavane for a Dead Princess)” with the frenetic and brilliant genius of Mozart’s Symphony No. 29 in G minor, the opening music in Milos Forman’s film “Amadeus.”

Apropos of both “head” and “heart,” the centerpiece of the program is “Headcase,” a multimedia musical exploration of living composer Brett Dietz’s struggle to regain clarity after suffering a stroke at age 29. The Pittsburgh Tribute Review described “Headcase” as “haunting and powerful — a remarkably sophisticated score that blends words, music and visual displays to touch the heart and mind.”

“Headcase” does contain some potentially disturbing language and imagery and may not be suitable for younger audiences.
The concert will take place at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, at Merrill Auditorium.

Tickets, ranging from $17 to $56, are available through PortTix at 842-0800 or www.porttix.com. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle St., from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.