Huang is one of those once-in-a-generation violinists whose sheer virtuosity is equally matched by his intensity and sensitivity especially when tackling a piece as demanding as the Dvorák.

The soloist has very little downtime in the 32-minute piece, punctuated by a series of syncopated Czech folk dance rhythms that go from slow to fast where you would anticipate it would progress fast to slow.

Huang interrupted spasms of frenetic energy with sublimely lush drama and simply gorgeous passages that he summoned with dramatic flourishes that always seemed in service to the music.

Gomez was in lockstep with every move Huang made, leading the orchestra in a perfectly timed and exciting performance.

Gomez's shining moment in the concert, though, came in the TSO's first-ever performance of William Grant Still's Symphony No. 1 "Afro-American."

 It's hard to believe Tucson has never experienced this wonderful work by America's dean of African-American composers. The half-hour symphony is filled with beautiful jazz and blues rhythms woven into the tapestry of early 20th century classical writing. It was so much fun to hear, and seeing Gomez on the podium almost dancing as he led the orchestra made it even more memorable.

When Gomez got to the toe-tapping counter melodies in the popular third movement, you could see people in the audience bop along to the "I Got Rhythm" tune from Ira and George Gershwin's jazz standard.

During a pre-concert talk, TSO Artistic Administrator Ben Nisbet explained how the Gershwins had originally heard the four-note riff from Still and adapted it into their 1930 song. Still reclaimed the riff the following year in his "Afro-American" Symphony.