Program Notes: Beethoven & Bernstein

Experience two monumental works that bridge centuries. Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, a dazzling precursor to his Ode to Joy, blends virtuosic piano, orchestra and chorus in a joyful, triumphant finale that echoes through his Ninth Symphony. Written for a legendary concert and featuring Beethoven himself at the piano, this piece captures the raw energy of genius in motion. In contrast, Leonard Bernstein’s Symphony No. 3 “Kaddish” confronts God in a deeply personal and political reckoning. With searing text by Holocaust survivor Samuel Pisar, this emotional tour de force for narrator, soprano, chorus and orchestra explores faith, hope and humanity’s struggle for meaning in a fractured world.

This episode includes music excerpts to illustrate each work.

Masterworks 3 of the 25/26 Season
Performances November 7 & 8, 2025