JoAnn Falletta hasn’t forgotten her last appearance conducting the Omaha Symphony.

Not many people would.

Falletta was last here to conduct the Omaha Symphony’s historic first performance in the Holland Performing Arts Center Nov. 4, 2005.

That concert featured 75 musicians, 182 chorus members, four vocal soloists and a guest viola soloist. The repertoire included performances of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and the world premiere of “Purple Rhapsody” by American composer Joan Tower.

“It was overwhelming,” Falletta remembers. “There was so much excitement about this beautiful new hall.”

Falletta, music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, is looking forward to coming back to Omaha this weekend to conduct the Omaha Symphony’s “Spring Enchantment” MasterWorks program at the Holland Performing Arts Center. The program will feature several spring-themed musical works including Prokofiev’s “Cinderella: Suite,” Mendelssohn’s “Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage,” and Elgar’s famed “Enigma Variations.” The program will also feature 19-year-old cellist Julian Schwarz performing Saint-Saens’ Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor.

“I had the opportunity to work with him (Schwarz) in Virginia earlier this season,” Falletta said. “He’s passionate about what he is doing … even though he is very young, he has a profound understanding of this music.”

Falletta is particularly excited that this weekend will give her an opportunity to go back to a hall and an orchestra she remembers so fondly.

“I remember the last time I was with the orchestra I was so amazed by them,” Falletta said. “I’m thrilled to be coming back to work with them again and to be in this great hall again.”