The Planets + birthday cupcakes? What more can you ask for?

Join us tonight for a big-time birthday bash in honor of Benaroya Hall’s first dazzling decade in Seattle. Hear Gustav Holst’s mighty symphonic suite, The Planets, alongside Beethoven’s First Symphony. Then, join us in the Grand Lobby for a FREE post-concert birthday party, including cupcakes, dj and dancing.

RSVP required for the post-concert party (space is limited!). Call 206.215.4851 to reserve your spot, or visit the registration table in The Boeing Company Gallery along Third Avenue the night of the concert for your party pass.

Thanks for a tremendous 10 years, Seattle — here’s to 100′s more!

This Thursday, Seattle Symphony will kick off the UBS Masterworks Season in epic fashion, with a performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 8, “Symphony of A Thousand.” A beefed up orchestra of 115 instrumentalists will take the stage, led by Maestro Gerard Schwarz.

Schwarz will be conducting Mahler’s masterpiece for the first time of his career, and sees this mammoth undertaking as “a most appropriate way to celebrate our anniversary in Benaroya.” They’ll be joined by more than 230 chorus members, hailing from Seattle Symphony Chorale, Northwest Boychoir and Seattle Pro Musica — and that’s not all! Last, but certainly not least, eight world-class vocal soloists, including Seattle’s own Jane Eaglen, will join forces to perform what the Los Angeles Times called “the most jubilant moment in all of Mahler and maybe all of music.”

The number of performers isn’t the only thing expanding for this once-in-a-lifetime performance. In order to accommodate the 350 artists onstage, Benaroya Hall is building a special stage extension. Check it out:

This temporary construction, in addition to the standard extension, increases the stage’s square footage by a mighty third, and took a full crew eight hours to install. Seattle Symphony Technical Director Joseph Cook, who oversaw the installation, said, “I’ve done a lot of different productions for the Symphony since I started in 1990, but this is the largest undertaking, in terms of scale, by far.”

With new stage construction, 115 musicians playing both on- and offstage, eight soloists and three choruses, Seattle Symphony has its hands full in bringing this massive work to life. “Months of preparation went into this concert,” said Orchestra Manager Jennifer Adair. “It’s a rare opportunity, not only because of the number of people involved, but because it’s such an amazing piece of music.”

Opening Night was a grand success, with a delectable (and gorgeous!) pre-concert Gala dinner, a spectacular concert, and a rockin’ after party. Browse a few snaps below, all courtesy of Ben Van Houten.

Becky and Jack Benaroya, Honorary Chairs for the Tenth Anniversary Season of Celebrations, are greeted with flowers and applause at the Opening Night Gala dinner, held pre-concert in the Samuel & Althea Stroum Grand Lobby.

Maestro Gerard Schwarz and Board Chair Susan Hutchison join the Orchestra in saluting the Benaroyas once again, this time just before the music begins.

Guest artists Samuel Ramey and Frederica von Stade with Maestro Schwarz following an incredible concert of opera and Broadway favorites.

Opening Night concertgoers dance the night away at the after party. Happy Birthday, Benaroya Hall!

Check out KING FM‘s YouTube montage of the Instrument Petting Zoo, offered as part of Sunday’s Day of Music. (Our favorite part? The folks making spacey sounds on the theremin!)

No doubt these youngsters will remember their first time trying out a trombone, or the moment they set bow to string (kind of screechy, but memorable, right?). What are your favorite memories of Benaroya Hall? Folks over at the Seattle Times shared some of their Benaroya Hall bests, from applauding all-too exuberantly all alone, to seeing YES perform one great set after another — now, it’s your turn. Leave your favorite memories in the comments, and share the love.

That’s right: our 10th Anniversary Season in Benaroya Hall gets underway tonight with our Season Preview Concert, followed tomorrow by the Opening Night Concert and Gala — featuring Maestro Schwarz and opera superstars Frederica von Stade and Samuel Ramey — and capped off Sunday with our Day of Music and Art: Block Party, an all-day event with more than 600 artists in and around Benaroya Hall, Seattle Art Museum and The Triple Door.

It’s been an exciting week here at Seattle Symphony — from getting ready for the start of the season to celebrating Gerard Schwarz, who announced this week that he will step down in 2011, after more than 25 years as Music Director.

***The Scoop on the Big Weekend***

Season Preview Concert
Tonight, September 12, at 7pm

This season sampler includes selections from Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, Holst’s The Planets, Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, Stravinsky’s The Firebird and more! Plus, get the inside scoop from Maestro Gerard Schwarz on all the exciting music, artists and special events of the season.

Opening Night Concert and Gala
Saturday, September 13, at 8pm

It’s a cavalcade of stars! Maestro Schwarz, mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade and bass Samuel Ramey, together with Seattle Symphony, present a spectacular program that includes the best of opera and Broadway, including selections from Boito’s Mefistofele — Samuel Ramey’s signature role — and Heggie’s Dead Man Walking. Plus, the music of Rodgers & Hammerstein!

Afterward, party hearty in honor of Benaroya Hall’s 10th birthday with Theresa Carnovale and City Life in the Grand Lobby.

Day of Music and Art: Block Party
Sunday, September 14, 10am–6pm
Plus evening performances at The Triple Door

Join Benaroya Hall, Seattle Symphony, Soundbridge, Seattle Art Museum and The Triple Door for a full day of activities for the whole family! Six hundred artists will present more than 40 FREE music and dance performances in celebration of Benaroya Hall’s 10th Anniversary. Mention the Block Party and receive free admission to SAM’s world-class Permanent Collection, then visit The Triple Door for food, drink and dancing into the night! Plus, you can visit the Seattle Symphony Ticket Office to purchase tickets to 10 select 2008–2009 concerts for $10 each!