Austin Orchestra Presents Beethoven Symphonies

Maestro Peter Bay and the Austin Symphony Orchestra present a stellar evening that includes Beethoven’s monumental Ninth Symphony, welcoming the vocal forces of Chorus Austin and guest soloists Mary Dunleavy, soprano; Dana Beth Miller, mezzo-soprano; Karl Dent, tenor; and Donnie Ray Albert, bass. Compass Bank and Vinson & Elkins, LLP proudly sponsor this concert.

PROGRAM

Beethoven - Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93
Beethoven - Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 "Choral"

Maestro Peter Bay opens this all-Beethoven concert with the Symphony No. 8 in F Major. The Eighth symphony has never achieved the popularity of Beethoven’s other symphonies: its inner calm and relative brevity don’t fit into the customary picture of the “Titan,” who - thus the widespread belief - was no longer capable of tender and intimate feelings by this time, on account of his deafness. For connoisseurs of Beethoven’s music, however, the Eighth is a jewel of Late Classical symphonic tradition and one of the composer’s most important symphonies precisely because of the balance achieved between form and content.

After a brief intermission, Maestro Bay returns to present one of classical music’s best known and best loved works, Beethoven’s “Choral” Symphony No. 9. The Ninth symphony is revolutionary in many respects. First, its sheer length was unprecedented in Beethoven’s day. And ending a symphony with a vocal movement, calling for soloists and chorus intoning a text by a contemporary writer was equally shocking. The Ninth symphony takes the listener on a journey from darkness to light and is to be experienced more than it is to be described. The Finale opens like a storm, music starting, halting and quickly changing moods. A simple theme enters quietly and is treated with a series of variations. The storm returns and the human voice silences the chaos and offer a solution to all of man’s strife: Brotherly Love as expressed by unbridled Joy. This joy reaches an ecstatic pinnacle when the chorus veritably shouts, “Seid umschlungen, Millionen!” (Be embraced, o ye millions!). What a fitting closing concert for a glorious Austin Symphony year with promise for the future in the new Long Center for the Performing Arts.

Concert goers can enjoy “Concert Conversations” with Bob Buckalew at 7:10 p.m. in the concert hall. These discussions provide an in-depth look at the composers and works being performed, including commentary on the social climate in which they were composed. -- www.austinsymphony.org