Beethoven Symphony No. 9 with Peter Oundjian

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Program

GABRIELA ORTIZ  Yanga
BEETHOVEN  Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125

Featured Artists

Peter Oundjian, conductor
Colorado Symphony Chorus, Taylor Martin, director
Colorado Symphony Percussion Section

Description

A new season begins under the baton of Music Director Peter Oundjian, uniting chorus and orchestra in an exploration of the enduring power of the human spirit. Gabriela Ortiz’s Yanga chronicles the remarkable journey of Gaspar Yanga — an African prince taken from his homeland in the 1500s, enslaved in Mexico, and destined to become a revolutionary hero. After leading a successful uprising, Yanga founded the first free African settlement in the Americas, becoming a symbol of resistance that inspired anti-slavery movements for centuries. Ortiz’s vibrant score, propelled by the Colorado Symphony percussionists and Colorado Symphony Chorus, bursts with rhythmic electricity as it honors his extraordinary legacy.

If Yanga ignites the night, Beethoven’s monumental Ninth Symphony elevates it to the sublime. Led by Oundjian, the Colorado Symphony and Chorus illuminate the Ninth’s sweeping journey toward its iconic finale, “Ode to Joy,” a grand hymn to humanity and a triumphant call for unity that remains as urgent and uplifting as ever. So often enlisted for its thematic potency, the Ninth has endured for over two centuries as the greatest artistic anthem of peace, freedom, and brotherhood ever created. Yanga serves as a powerful contemporary response to the Ninth, creating a dialogue between historical struggles for freedom and enduring human aspirations for unity. Together, they set the tone for a season of bold storytelling and profound musical expression, offering an unforgettable opening to the year ahead.

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.