The Philadelphia Orchestra and Yannick Nézét-Seguin present a symphonic journey on Sunday, September 6th at 1 PM on 90.1, and Monday, September 7th at 7 PM on WRTI HD-2 that begins with a world premiere, and then traverses both the 5th and 6th symphonies of Ludwig van Beethoven.
This concert was to be performed to a sold-out house at Verizon Hall in mid-March, but had to be canceled because of the coronavirus outbreak. But the show went on... the musicians played to an empty house and the concert was presented live on WRTI. Here's your chance to hear it again!
The Iranian-Canadian composer and pianist Iman Habibi has composed a work inspired by nature that, like Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, is based on a direct quote from Beethoven, Jeder Baum spricht, or every tree speaks, translating from German.
The work is an imagining of Beethoven’s response to today’s climate crisis. We know from Beethoven’s letters that he took frequent walks in nature and that he loved the forest. Habibi himself comments that his work is a commentary on the environmental crisis that we’re living today, but it ends with hope for our future.
Beethoven's iconic Fifth Symphony was on the program when the Philadelphia Orchestra gave its first concert in 1900, and it's an epic tour de force that has resonated through the centuries down to the present day. Then, in the wake of its rousing conclusion come the verdant valleys and sweet smells of the woods of the Austrian countryside, as captured in Beethoven’s 6th Symphony, which premiered at the same time. We'll enjoy them both on Sunday afternoon!
With Yannick on the podium, recporded live from Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center, this was an unforgettable concert. Listen to this re-broadcast on WRTI 90.1 on Sunday, September 6th at 1 PM and on WRTI HD-2 on Monday, September 7th at 1 PM.
Read the detailed program notes for the concert here.
PROGRAM:
Habibi: Jeder Baum spricht (World Premiere, Philadelphia Orchestra Commission)
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5
INTERMISSION
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 ("Pastoral")
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Yannick Nézét-Seguin, conductor
Gregg Whiteside is producer and host of The Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert broadcasts, every Sunday at 1 PM on WRTI 90.1, streaming online at WRTI.org, and on our mobile app! Listen again on Mondays at 7 PM on WRTI HD-2
