The Auburn Symphony Orchestra’s 2010-11 season ends on a high note with three concert performances this weekend honoring Gustav Mahler, the late-Romantic Austrian-Bohemian composer and one of the leading conductors of his generation.

ASO presents “The Titan” – an all-Gustav Mahler program commemorating the centennial of his death – at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Auburn Performing Arts Center, 700 E. Main St.

The program includes the composer’s works, Blumine, Songs of a Wayfarer and Symphony No. 1 in D Major “The Titan.” The three masterful pieces in the program are interwoven.

Blumine originated as a movement from his Symphony No. 1, The Titan. His dramatic song cycle Songs of a Wayfarer, featuring local baritone Victor Benedetti, also has strong connections to the First Symphony, with the main theme of two of the songs becoming themes in two of the symphony’s movements.

The work of the great composer bridged the traditional Austrian-German 19th century and the modernism of the early 20th. His compositions are almost exclusively in the genres of song and symphony.

Prior to the performance, an extended pre-concert lecture will be presented by ASO Conductor Stewart Kershaw and KUOW host Dave Beck, focusing on the story behind the composers and their music. The free pre-concert lectures will begin at 6:45 p.m. Saturday and 1:45 p.m. Sunday.

The concerts are sponsored in large part by the City of Auburn.

Founded in 1996, the fully-professional Auburn Symphony Orchestra is led by Kershaw, internationally-renowned conductor and recently retired music director of the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra.

Reserved seats are $32 adults; $25 seniors; $10 students.

For more information, call 253-887-7777 or purchase online at auburnsymphony.org.