American Classical Orchestra Founder and Artistic Director Thomas Crawford leads the opening concert of the Orchestra’s 39th season.The first of four 2023-24 orchestral performances, the concert offers such epic masterpieces as Mozart’s “Paris” and Beethoven’s “Pastoral” symphonies, along with Beethoven’s Romance in G Major for Violin and Orchestra. The Romance features award-winning, historically informed violinist and concertmaster Augusta McKay Lodge. The title of the program, premier coup d'archet (first stroke of the bow), refers to a device whereby all string instruments play together at the start of a symphony — a practice popular at the time.