MTT and SFS Symposium—Beethoven: Before and After

Beethoven Symposium: Before and After

Saturday, May 4, 2013,
1:00-4:00 p.m.

Part I: Beethoven Reimagined

1:00-1:45 p.m.
Michael Tilson Thomas, Music Director, San Francisco Symphony, guest
William Meredith, Director of the Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies at San Jose State University, host
Members of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus
Ragnar Bohlin, Director, San Francisco Symphony Chorus
Musicians of the San Francisco Symphony
 
Topics: Festival Overview, Programs/pieces, MTT’s approach to Beethoven, Beethoven biographical/historical information (including early years in Bonn/Vienna), Beethoven arrangements
 
Music:
Beethoven, arr. Bohlin: Adelaide, Op. 46 (Chorus, Bohlin) (1795/2013)
Beethoven: Excerpts from Three Equali for Four Trombones, WoO 30 (1812)
Beethoven, arr. Seyfried: Excerpts from Three Equali for Four Trombones, WoO 30 (1812/1827)

Part II: Beethoven as Inspiration

2:00-2:45 p.m.
John Adams, composer, guest
Saint Lawrence String Quartet
John Mangum, Director of Artistic Planning, San Francisco Symphony, host
 
Topics: Late String Quartets, Absolute Jest
 
Music:
Beethoven: I and V from String Quartet in C-sharp minor, Op. 131
Beethoven: II from String Quartet in F major, Op. 135
Adams: Excerpts from Absolute Jest (Quartet only)

 
Part III: Beethoven the Scholar

3:00-3:45 p.m.
William Meredith, Director of the Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies at San Jose State University, speaker
Saint Lawrence String Quartet
Members of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus
Ragnar Bohlin, Director, San Francisco Symphony Chorus
 
Topics: Beethoven’s inspirations for Missa solemnis, including medieval and Renaissance music, and visual art
 
Music:
Palestrina: Gloria from Magnificat Terzii Toni
Palestrina: Pueri Habraeorum
Dietrich: Servus tuus sum ego Domine
Beethoven: Heiliger Dankgesang from String Quartet in A minor, Op. 132

Question and Answer Period

3:45-4:00 p.m.