The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra fires up its 46th season Friday, Sept. 10, by celebrating the music of Mendelssohn and the wordplay of Shakespeare as they intersect the Bard's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

Creatures from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" forest will inhabit The Rotunda at 1000 N. Water St., at 5 p.m. and fire and flag throwers set to the beat of drums will lead a procession to Uihlein Hall at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts at 6:30 p.m. Thirty minutes later, Andreas Delfs takes the podium and the season is officially launched.

A post-concert reception follows. Individual reservations are $250 per person, which includes a concert ticket. Corporate tables are available from $4,000. Dress is "black tie optional."