Beethoven’s Fifth & Emperor Concerto with Kahane & Oundjian

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Program

BEETHOVEN  Fantasia, Op. 80
BEETHOVEN  Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73 "Emperor"
BEETHOVEN  Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67

Featured Artists

Peter Oundjian, conductor
Jeffrey Kahane, piano
Colorado Symphony Chorus, Taylor Martin, director

Description

Few composers shaped the course of Western music more profoundly than Ludwig van Beethoven, making this all-Beethoven program with Music Director Peter Oundjian a centerpiece of the season and a celebration of the human spirit. Beethoven’s Fantasia is a singular hybrid, fusing piano concerto, chamber music, and choral writing into one audacious creation. Former music director Jeffrey Kahane — one of the most admired Beethoven interpreters of his generation — will showcase his dexterity from the keyboard, shaping the Fantasia’s improvisatory opening before it blossoms into a jubilant choral finale with the Colorado Symphony Chorus, offering a first glimpse of Beethoven’s unshakable belief in artistic possibility even as he faced the devastating onset of deafness.

In a rare double billing, Kahane returns to perform the mighty "Emperor" Concerto. One of the most revered works in the piano repertoire, the concerto’s commanding opening, rhapsodic lyricism, and blazing finale make it a pinnacle of Beethoven’s heroic style. Kahane brings both virtuosity and deep insight to a score that demands nothing less. The program culminates with the iconic Fifth Symphony, whose four-note opening has become the single most recognizable motif in classical music. Beethoven himself described it as “fate knocking at the door,” and across the symphony’s relentless trajectory we hear a composer transforming personal struggle into universal triumph. It remains a testament to Beethoven’s resilience: even with silence closing in, he composed music that roared with life. Together, these three works celebrate music’s power to defy adversity and ignite the human spirit.

Prelude & Talkback: Join us before and after select concerts to dive deeper into the music or take a peak behind the curtain. Check back for exact details about this concert.