From March 28th to April 7th, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra will celebrate the life of a legend. Ludwig van Beethoven was one of the greatest geniuses our world has ever produced. A cultural icon, his music will live forever as some of the most immediate, inspiring, and impactful creations of the human mind.

Legendary Austrian pianist Alfred Brendel gives his final performances with the Minnesota Orchestra on March 6 and 7 in concerts conducted by Music Director Osmo Vanska. Brendel, who will play Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto, has announced plans to stop performing at the end of 2008, after six decades of presenting live concerts and recitals.

Inspired by Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Music Director Marin Alsop's own fascination with television's hit series CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) and the overarching Beethoven theme of the 2007/2008 season, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will present a two-night CSI: Beethoven event, Wednesday, February 27 and Thursday, February 28 at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.

Renowned classical pianist Gustavo Romero returns to the McCallum Theatre on Sunday, February 24, 2008 at 7:00pm for the second performance in the first year of a multi-year cycle featuring all of the piano sonatas of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827).

Members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic perform in a Chamber Music Society concert on Tuesday, February 12, at 8 p.m., in a program that includes Beethoven’s Piano Trio No. 1 in E-flat major and Ravel’s String Quartet.

Austin audiences are "Continuing the Journey" through the Austin Symphony's 97th concert season on February 15 & 16 at Riverbend Centre as the Austin Symphony Orchestra continues its journey through the nine Beethoven symphonies.

A year after the accident that almost ended his career, Nigel Kennedy returns to Australia to perform works by Beethoven and Mozart. He performs with the Sydney Symphony in three cities – Sydney, Newcastle and Brisbane.

Swedish label BIS has released the fourth CD in Osmo Vänskä and the Minnesota Orchestra’s acclaimed Beethoven symphonies cycle, an album that includes the genesis of Beethoven’s symphonic output as well as his nature-inspired Sixth (Pastoral) Symphony.

Just in time f or Thanksgiving, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra offers a sumptuous f east of some of the greatest works of yesteryear and today. In an unusual programming juxtaposition, Beethoven’s Fidelio Overture, as well as his earlier incarnations of an overture f or the same opera, entitled Leonore Overtures Nos. 1, 2, 3, comes to life under the baton of NJSO Music Director Neeme Järvi.

Osmo Vänskä and the Minnesota Orchestra conclude their acclaimed performance cycle of Beethoven's symphonies with concerts November 1 to 3 featuring that composer's dance-like Seventh Symphony and his noble Emperor Piano Concerto, which showcases 27-year-old Russian piano virtuoso Yevgeny Sudbin as soloist.

The Minnesota Orchestra nears the completion of its acclaimed Beethoven symphony cycle with performances of the composer's jaunty Symphony No. 2 on October 4 and 5 in concerts that also include Shostakovich's once-controversial First Violin Concerto, featuring young Georgian star Lisa Batiashvili.

Beethoven's masterpiece returns to Benaroya Hall under the direction of Gerard Schwarz for three performances on Thursday, April 5, at 7:30pm; Friday, April 6, at 8pm; and Saturday, April 7, at 8pm.