Colorado Symphony to Perform Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, "Eroica"

Colorado Symphony showcases Beethoven's "Eroica" Symphony, the masterwork that changed the idea of what a symphony could be, in two different formats

The Colorado Symphony celebrates one of the most fundamentally important works in the repertoire, Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, "Eroica," in three upcoming concerts that promise to entertain, enlighten and inspire. On Friday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m., resident conductor Scott O'Neil highlights the "Eroica" Symphony as part of the Colorado Symphony's popular Inside the Score series. Designed for newcomers to classical music as well as returning concertgoers, Friday's performance will deconstruct this revolutionary work that was both huge in scale and daunting for listeners at its 1804 premiere. Then, on Saturday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 25 at 2:30 p.m., the Colorado Symphony presents a Masterworks concert program featuring Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, "Eroica," as well as Kodály's Dances of Galánta and Haydn's Symphony No. 22 in E-flat major, "The Philosopher." Tickets are on sale now.

At Friday's Inside the Score performance, O'Neil and the musicians of the orchestra will explore Beethoven's "Eroica" through stunning visuals, musical sound bytes and clever anecdotes, and delve into the relationship with Napoleon, to whom the symphony was originally dedicated. Beethoven's "Eroica" marked the first time a composer "projected" himself as the hero of his own story. Musically, the symphony questions what it means to be human. From the first movement's energy and hope, to the third movement's joy, to the final fifth movement's unforgettable ending, Beethoven's "Eroica" was like nothing ever heard before. Inside the Score concertgoers will gain a deeper understanding of how this symphony caused such a sensation and why it remains a supreme test for any orchestra more than 200 years after its premiere.

At Saturday's and Sunday's Masterworks concerts, audiences will enjoy Haydn's extraordinary Symphony No. 22 in E-flat, "The Philosopher." It earns its nickname thanks to the formality of the music and use of the "tick-tock" effect, and remains one of the most popular of Haydn's early symphonies. Accompanying the Haydn and Beethoven symphonies on the concert program is Kodály's spirited Dances of Galánta, which takes inspiration from the folk music of Kodály's hometown of Galánta in Hungary (now Slovakia). Taking inspiration from gypsy dances and songs, Kodály captured the essence of the beloved favorite music of his childhood and transformed it into one of the most enjoyable works in the repertoire.

Tickets: Tickets are on sale now at www.coloradosymphony.org, the Colorado Symphony Box Office: (303) 623-7876 or (877) 292-7979 or in-person in the lobby of Boettcher Concert Hall in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Hours are Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

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