Childress Conducts Beethoven

Pre-Concert Chat at 5:45 PM
Lawn Paver Bar

Benjamin Britten

Simple Symphony, Op. 4

Ludwig van Beethoven

Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21

As one might expect, Beethoven’s first symphony follows many of the traditions and “rules” inherited from Haydn and Mozart–the symphonic masters of the day. Even so, Beethoven’s unique voice and defiance of the expectations of his time shine through in many ways—starting with the opening chord (which dodged the symphony’s C Major key that audiences would have expected) and continuing through an unusually slow introduction to the finale. Stephanie Childress begins the program with Britten’s Simple Symphony, an energetic and cheerful work whose movements include titles such as “Playful Pizzicato” and “Frolicsome Finale.”

Alasdair’s take on the program:

Beethoven’s first symphony was the first piece I ever conducted in public, when I was 15; I’m looking forward to being in the audience and seeing Stephanie Childress work her magic with this old favorite of mine.