Mario Venzago Leads the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, March 17-19

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Guest violinist Baiba Skride will perform Alban Berg’s Violin Concerto

Violinist Baiba Skride and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO), led by Mario Venzago, will perform Alban Berg’s Violin Concerto on Thursday, March 17 at 8 p.m. at the Music Center at Strathmore and Friday, March 18 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, March 19 at 8 p.m. at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Also on the program are the fifth symphonies of Beethoven and Schubert.

Beethoven’s famous Fifth Symphony, containing the infamous “fate knocking at the door” theme, is one of the most recognized works in the repertory. Composed at the height of Beethoven’s career, the work portrays romantic ideals within classical form. Beethoven conducted the premiere of this work in 1808 in Vienna.

Berg’s Violin Concerto, subtitled “for the memory of an angel,” was composed in memory of Manon Gropius, the daughter of Alma Mahler Gropius (once Gustav Mahler’s wife). Originally commissioned by the American virtuoso violinist Louis Krasner, the work now finds itself in the able hands of Latvian violinist Baiba Skride, whose playing is described as “unfailingly intelligent” and her tone as “full but beautifully controlled” by International Record Review.

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