We launch a year-long celebration of Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th birthday with his Symphony No. 8 as a centerpiece of the concert which also offers works by Mozart and Barto´k.

One of Barto´k’s most popular works, Romanian Folk Dances is based on instrumental melodies he heard and recorded while doing fieldwork in Transylvania. The often haunting Romanian folk melodies represent authentic folk music. Barto´k added a minimal accompaniment with rich and unique harmonic coloring, and exciting and lively rhythmic foundations. Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertant will feature the exceptional artistry of Concertmaster Mary Beth Woodruff and guest violist Andrew Duckles. This work is often regarded as Mozart’s greatest string concerto. The slow middle movement is in the spirit of an opera aria, with passion and pathos, and unparalleled beauty.

Do the most difficult and fateful events in the lives of the great composers somehow bring forth their most awesome works of art? This is often the question, especially when one hears Beethoven’s daring and brilliant Symphony No. 8. Written the same year as the infamous and heart-breaking letter to his “Immortal Beloved,” which is full of doom and self-pity, the ebullient Symphony No. 8 explodes with high-spirits and merriment. Beethoven’s determination and optimism are clearly present in this work. “‘Es muss sein:” it must be.

Be sure to arrive early to attend our free preconcert lecture at 6:50pm, to further explore the music, and life and times of the composer.

The Santa Maria Philharmonic Society is a professional symphony orchestra, bringing live classical music to Central Coast communities. The orchestra offers a four-concert season of inspiring music and an outstanding youth outreach program to introduce area youth to orchestral instruments and music.