Concert I
Ode to Joy
Thursday, December 3
6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
The Symphony of the Hills’ 20th anniversary season will kick off with our annual Christmas and holiday-themed concert. 2020 celebrates the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth and this joyful concert is constructed around the theme “Ode to Joy” from Beethoven’s masterpiece Symphony No. 9. We will enjoy performing the Scherzo movement and Herbert von Karajan’s beautiful arrangement of the “Ode to Joy” theme entitled “European Anthem.” We offer these movements as an homage to Beethoven and in celebration with the Symphony of the Hills’ community during the 20th anniversary season. We are planning to present the grand finale of Beethoven’s symphonic masterpiece in April alongside our Grand Symphony Chorus, orchestra and soloists. In addition to the Beethoven, this holiday concert will also feature heart-warming holiday favorites from “Charlie Brown”, and works by Leroy Anderson, Sergei Prokofiev, and a special presentation of that Trans-Siberian Orchestra favorite, “Christmas Eve Sarajevo 12/24.” We are so grateful to our musicians, board, staff, the Cailloux Theater, and our patrons whose common desire for great symphonic music inspires us to safely pursue our art at this historic concert. We hope to either see you there with bells on, or, to invite us into your home via our first ever live stream.
Selections including:
Anderson – A Christmas Festival
Guaraldi/Pugh – A Charlie Brown Christmas
Prokofiev – Troike from Lt. Kije Suite
O’Neill/Phillips – Christmas Eve Sarajevo 12/24
Beethoven – Scherzo and “Ode to Joy” from Symphony No. 9
Dear Symphony of the Hills Family,
I hope this communication finds you and yours well and surviving, perhaps even showing some signs of thriving, during this time. The Symphony of the Hills’ 20th anniversary season will kick off with our annual Christmas and holiday-themed concert. Since 2020 celebrates the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, this season-opening concert is constructed around the theme “Ode to Joy” from Beethoven’s masterwork, the Symphony No. 9. We will enjoy performing the Scherzo movement and Herbert von Karajan’s beautiful arrangement of the “Ode to Joy” theme entitled “European Anthem.” We offer these movements as an homage to Beethoven and in celebration with the Symphony of the Hills’ community during this 20th anniversary season. Also, at our April concert, we are planning to present the grand finale of Beethoven’s symphonic masterpiece alongside our Grand Symphony Chorus, orchestra and soloists.
In addition to the Beethoven, this joyful concert will also feature heart-warming holiday favorites from “Charlie Brown”, works by Leroy Anderson and Sergei Prokofiev, and a special presentation of that Trans-Siberian Orchestra favorite, “Christmas Eve Sarajevo 12/24.”
We are so grateful to our musicians, board, staff, the Cailloux Theater, our sponsors, and you, our patrons, whose common desire for great symphonic music inspires us to safely pursue our art at this historic concert. We hope to be with you on the evening of December 3rd either in the Cailloux Theater, or, perhaps in your home via our first ever live stream.
In peace and thanksgiving for this time together,
Gene
Gene Dowdy, conductor & artistic director
