November 16- 20
The
BEET
The Centennial year culminates in November with a four-day celebration of the music of Beethoven.
Dedicated to the Enlightenment, to themes of freedom and justice and a time when“ all men will be brothers,” this is the music of Beethoven, the humanist and revolutionary.
A year that ends in JOY!
The 2016 Centennial year reaches its finale with Beethoven’ s Ninth Symphony. No other work creates such breathless excitement, whether you’ re hearing it for the first time or returning to it as a familiar favorite. Remarkably, Beethoven was completely deaf when he conducted its 1824 premiere performance. He had to be turned around to face the audience after the final notes had died away to recognize the waving handkerchiefs and hats in hands, a tribute to a man who could not hear the applause.
The Ninth is paired by the work of a“ living” Beethoven, John Adams, whose homage to the grand master can be heard in Absolute Jest, written for and performed here by the great St. Lawrence String Quartet. In residence for the week, the Quartet can also be heard playing Beethoven in our Late Night lobby event, and at the Shriver Auditorium.
The Festival offers unique opportunities to participate as a Rusty Musician sitting alongside the orchestra and by joining in with the Baltimore Choral Arts Society for the“ Ode to Joy” finale!
Program features Centennial Celebration Commission Late Night performance in the lobby. See page 4 for details.