The musical ability of past and future generations will combine in a symphony of talents when the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra brings its nationwide tour to Stephens Auditorium Tuesday.

While some youth will attend the concert to hear music, one young person will perform onstage. Sixteen-year-old pianist Lukas Vondracek is one of the youngest solo performers in the history of the Philharmonic Orchestra. Vondracek gave his first public performance at the age of four, says Vladimir Ashkenazy, chief conductor of the orchestra.

“He is a very young international performer,” Ashkenazy says. “Vondracek really is a child prodigy.”

Vondracek’s solo is just one part of this historical performance, says Hollis Monroe, president of the Ames International Orchestra Festival Association.

“It’s really sort of a unique opportunity,” Monroe says. “What we have is a concert bringing together the works of three of the greatest composers.”

Ashkenazy has marked his own personal place in musical history as well. The Grammy award-winning pianist was born just east of Moscow. In the early 1960s, he defied Soviet authorities by moving to England, says Monroe, who considers himself a long-time fan of Ashkenazy.

Ashkenazy did not return to his homeland for nearly 30 years.

“He was declared a non-person in his country,” Monroe says.

Ashkenazy says he has enjoyed classical music since he was a child.

“I became a musician because I couldn’t help it,” he says. “It was me.”

Ashkenazy says young adults should take advantage of the opportunity to see Vondracek perform and to better understand classical music as an art form.

“Young people should really make an effort to understand serious music and literature,” he says. “If you make an effort to really understand something, you grow culturally.”

Monroe agrees with the conductor. It is advantageous for young people to listen to classical music — people listen to more classical music than they realize, he says.

“The roots of much of what we listen to today actually can be found in this music,” he says.

The Philharmonic Orchestra developed in the late 19th century, while the Czechoslovakian nation was still under the influence of the Austrian Empire, says Ashkenazy.

“This is truly a world-class orchestra — one of the finest in existence,” Monroe says. “It managed to survive the war years.”

Monroe says the combination of musicians involved with the orchestra will make the concert one to remember.

“[The Philharmonic Orchestra] is led by one of the greatest musical talents born in the 20th century, and it features a young man who might be the greatest musical talent [of] the 21st century,” Monroe says.

Who: Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

Where: Stephens Auditorium

When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday

Cost: $17.50-$23.50 students, $33.50-$45.50 public