With the PPL Tower in center city Allentown bathed in French colors of red and blue, a few blocks away inside nearby Miller Symphony Hall, its exterior also lit with the colors of the French flag, the Allentown Symphony Orchestra’s Nov. 14 concert paid tribute to the vicitms of the Nov. 13 Paris terrorist attacks.

“Tonight we stand in solidarity with our friends in Paris,” Allentown Symphony Association Executive Director Sheila Evans said in her opening remarks.

“Music is a healing gift that crosses all borders,” Evans continued. “And I am happy to have a joyous concert.”

Lucy Bloise, Allentown Symphony Association Vice Presdent Marketing and Community Engagement, had sent out the email announcement just before the concert: “At tonight’s concert at 7:30 p.m., the Allentown Symphony Association will be paying homage in memoriam to the victims of France for the tragedy that occurred yesterday at Paris’ Bataclan concert hall.”

A recording of “The French National Anthem” sung by Edith Piaf was played during the curtain speech. Evans also invoked a moment of silence.

The concert featured the stunning debut of violinist Zeyu Victor Li, the 2015 Schadt Competition winner. For Jean Sibelius’ “Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47,” Li played with a self-assurance well beyond his 19 years. Li plays exquisitely, with a richness of tone, amazing speed and dexerity and fiery flourishes.

Li was equally impressive in the world premiere of Roberto Sierra’s “Rapsodico for Violin and Orchestra,” commissioned by the Allentown Symphony Orchestra for the 20th anniversary of the Schadt Competition. Entrants had performed the piece in the contest.

In keeping with the evening’s theme, the concert opened with Michael Daugherty’s “Strut For String Orchestra,” for which ASO principal cellist David Moulton undid his pony tail, let his hair down and donned sunglasses in keeping with the piece’s symphonic-rock sound.

ASO Music Director and Conductor Diane Wittry also conducted Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op.64,” a gigantic work in four movments which took up the concert’s nearly 50-miniute second half.

The Allentown Symhony played with a powerful ferosity as Wittry seemed to handpick the notes from the orchestra. She guided the musicians from vigorous to tender and back again, finishing with a big circular swath of notes.

Indeed, it was a joyous concert.

The concert was also presented the afternoon of Nov. 15.