March 1, 2024 – Tennessee Williams Theatre
March 3, 2024 – Broward Center for the Performing Arts
www.SouthFloridaSymphony.org
Ode to Joy! In a milestone musical event, South Florida Symphony Orchestra (SFSO), led by Sebrina María Alfonso, will pay passionate homage to Beethoven, one of classical music’s most revered composers, with a 200th anniversary celebration of his monumental choral masterpiece, Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125!
One hundred voices from South Florida Symphony Chorus and Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida will join soloists Elizabeth Caballero (soprano), Rebecca Ringle Kamarei (mezzo-soprano), Adam Diegel (tenor), and Luis Ledesma (baritone) for two performances on March 1, 2024, at the Tennessee Williams Theatre in Key West and on March 3 at Broward Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA) in Fort Lauderdale. Both shows will start at 7:30 p.m.
“When Beethoven added vocals to what would be his final symphony, he unwittingly changed the course of classical music forever and, in the process, created what is often cited as the greatest piece of music ever written,” said Maestra Alfonso. “Today, his magnificent Ninth continues to captivate audiences worldwide and has come to define our understanding of symphonic music as grand, opulent, powerful works of art.”
Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 premiered in 1824, Vienna, to an enthusiastic audience. During its composition, Beethoven was steadily losing his hearing and by the time of its premiere, he was profoundly deaf. He never heard a note outside his own imagination. Various accounts maintain that he had to be directed to face the audience during the performance to see its appreciation.
Alfonso added, “The sheer emotional power that courses throughout Symphony No. 9 can elicit uncharted feelings, creating a sense of wonder and awe in listeners and I look forward to our audience experiencing this profound connection. The momentous ‘Ode to Joy’ finale, which will be performed by a chorus of 100, is a testament to the resilience of our shared humanity when we stand united. What a thrill it will be for SFSO to commemorate 200 years of this extraordinary masterpiece with our audiences!”
Complementing these milestone performances will be a selection of moving operatic arias from Bizet’s Carmen, Puccini’s La bohème and Turandot, Bellini’s Norma, and Delibes’ Lakmé.
This musical celebration hits its crescendo on the evening of the SFSO’s annual gala, the organization’s largest fundraising event of the year.
Coming off its highly acclaimed 25th anniversary season, South Florida’s largest symphonic orchestra continues to inspire audiences of all ages.
Upcoming concerts include masterworks from Bernstein, Schubert, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky and more, including a SFSO premiere – Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s Clarinet Concerto.
