This year, more than in recent past seasons, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra’s Summerfest season at Artpark places more of an emphasis on the masterpieces of the symphonic repertoire. On Sunday afternoon, an all Beethoven program features the composer at the very heart of that repertoire, with BPO Resident Conductor Robert Franz leading the orchestra in the mighty Symphony No. 9 and the Concerto No. 1 for piano with Sara Davis Buechner as the soloist. Now in his second season with the orchestra, Robert Franz has proven to be an exceptionally strong addition to the BPO conducting staff. In the past few weeks alone Franz has demonstrated outstanding ability at the podium in very diverse repertoire. Last weekend Franz guided the BPO through an exciting, meticulously detailed performance of Holst’s The Planets. Franz achieved perfect balance between the orchestra and the off-stage female chorus in the final Neptune movement, which begins quietly and then becomes even quieter—no easy feat considering the reduced numbers of female voices available for this particular performance. Franz’s first performance with the BPO of the Beethoven 9th Symphony promises to be equally memorable. Canadian pianist Sara Buechner makes a welcome return to the BPO in the Beethoven Concerto. Buechner has a huge range of one hundred concertos in her active repertoire, and her stylish performances have garnered international acclaim. As just one example of many, a Japanese reviewer recently exclaimed, “The audience was wholly captivated by her performance, which combined an unbelievable technical virtuosity, musical sensibility and personal dynamism.”

Sunday, July 15 at 3pm. Artpark (450 South 4th St. Lewiston, 754-4375, www.artpark.net). $15-$48 (754-4375/www.bpo.org)