Celebrate Beethoven's 250th Birthday Year with Great Music

Update
The Orchestra would like to reassure patrons that the State Mandate does not affect the Orchestra of Southern Utah's Event this Thursday, November 12, 7:30pm. We encourage you to come prepared with your masks for a wonderful evening of music.
The Heritage Theatre and Orchestra of Southern Utah have complied with all state requirements and mandates.
We are so excited to share this concert with you.
Your ticket also gives a streaming access code: In-person and streaming tickets

Special Guests from the Zion: Trio Dr. Paul Abegg, Dr. Ka-Wai Yu, and Dr. Christian Bohnenstengel will perform Beethoven’s famous Triple Concerto

on Nov. 12 with the Orchestra of Southern Utah.

Orchestra of Southern Utah Celebrates the 250th Birthday Anniversary of Beethoven

Written by Mary Furse

The Orchestra of Southern Utah pays homage to the pioneer of romanticism in concert music, the man who has influenced generations of composers and elevated music as an expression of the human spirit: Ludwig Van Beethoven. This celebratory concert will be conducted by Xun Sun and feature guest soloists Paul Abegg, Ka-Wai Yu, and Christian Bohnenstengel. The performance will take place live on November 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Heritage Theater and also be streamed online on November 14 through 21. Anyone who purchases tickets will be given an access code. Ticket link

Opening quietly, with a hint of swells of joy to come, Beethoven’s Triple Concerto in C Major for Violin, Cello, and Piano takes us on a journey through the avenues and open scenes of nature, where Romantic Era artists of all mediums were often drawn to wander. The music is reminiscent of long walks the composer would take, notebook in hand, to seek inspiration. The three solo instruments carry on a conversation, often mimicking sounds one can pick out in nature, while the orchestra casts a moving backdrop of land, water, and sky.

The three soloists, Dr. Paul Abegg, Dr. Ka-Wai Yu, and Dr. Christian Bohnenstengel, have all performed extensively on the international stage. Violinist Dr. Paul Abegg has served as an adjudicator and presented master classes across the nation. He has performed as a recording artist for film and television scores, and recently performed the Brahms Violin Concerto with OSU. He serves as Director of Strings at DSU and conducts the Dixie State Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Ka-Wai Yu teaches cello and string chamber music at DSU. He serves on the board of Utah’s American String Teachers Association and as President of the Cello Society of Southern Utah. Dr. Bohnenstengel, on the piano, is proficient in a variety of genres and was recently the featured soloist in the OSU performance of Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. He serves as Director of Keyboard Studies at SUU.

Next on the program, with quick and surprising turns in mood, the scherzo movement of Quartet No. 7: in F Major, Op. 59, No. 1, rambles and leaps through patches of light and shadow and in-betweens. As a scherzo, it is meant to be a musical joke. It doesn’t linger in the darker moods for long, and even within them, it doesn’t take them too seriously. This is, however, enough of a contrast to make the brighter moments pleasing.

The single first chord of Egmont Overture carries weight and depth of expression, a sufficient introduction for this stormy and passionate program finale. But this description is too ambiguous. This is one of the pieces where Beethoven takes classical music farther than it had previously dared to go into the dark night of the soul, which he proved that only music could express. But it ultimately climbs out into a shining and deeply personal triumph.

Join OSU to celebrate the music of Beethoven on Thursday, November 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Heritage Theater or stream it online November 14-21. Tickets will be required to attend either in person or online. An access code for streaming will be provided with ticket purchase. Ticket prices are as follows: $12 for adults, $6 for children, and $6 for students. Tickets are now available online at www.myosu.org.

Click here to Preview the music and an article tracing the cities of Beethoven's life.

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Date: November 12, 2020, at 7:30 p.m., Masterful Romance

Heritage Theater: 105 N 100 E Cedar City, UT 84720

Tickets: $12 Adults, $6 Children, and $6 Students Link to purchase tickets

More information: www.myosu.org