CSO Celebrates Beethoven With Two-Month Festival

This Spring, the Canton Symphony Orchestra will celebrate the music and life of Ludwig Van Beethoven with a two month festival. Throughout March and April 2015 the legendary composer will be the focus throughout Canton with four orchestra concerts in Umstattd Performing Arts Hall, a chamber concert performed by the Canton Symphony String Trio, two ConverZations programs at the Zimmermann Symphony Center and several films showing at the historic Canton Palace Theatre.

The festival centers around four orchestral concerts, on March 28th-29th and April 25th-26th featuring acclaimed pianist André Watts performing all five of Beethoven's piano concerti. Watts, who is in his final year of a three-year residency with the Canton Symphony Orchestra, will also perform Beethoven's Choral Fantasy on the final concert of the festival along with the Canton Symphony Chorus, the University of Mount Union Concert Choir and the Walsh University Chamber Singers. Throughout the four concert series, the orchestra will perform other works by Beethoven such as Coriolan Overture, Contradances, and Musik zu einem Ritterballett. The finale to the festival will be Symphony No. 9 "Ode to Joy". Tickets for the orchestral concerts range from $25-45 for single tickets, and $80-160 for a Festival subscription.

To kick off the festival, the orchestra is hosting a "Rock the 5th" pub crawl in downtown Canton on March 5. The crawl is themed around Beethoven's very famous 5th symphony. Five locations in downtown Canton will be hosts for the evening - Bender's Tavern, Picciano's Martini Lounge, Conestoga Grill, Tapas 218, and George's Lounge. "Crawlers" will have the opportunity to purchase specialty appetizers and drinks for $5 at each location and musicians from the Canton Symphony Orchestra will provide entertainment. Special appearances by "Beethoven" himself will signal giveaways and added fun!

Beethoven mania includes several exciting events at the Zimmermann Symphony Center (aka the "Z"). On March 12th at 1:00pm the Canton Symphony String Trio, as part of the Orchestra's Casual Series held in Foundation Hall of the "Z", will perform chamber works from Beethoven's repertory. The performance will be repeated that same evening at Tapas 218 in downtown Canton at 7 p.m.

Beethoven will be the topic of the March and April ConverZations programs also held at the "Z". On March 9th, M.J. Albacete, retired Executive Director of the Canton Museum of Art, will discuss various types of pianos from Beethoven's time. On April 13th, Dr. Britt Cooper, Director of the Canton Symphony Chorus will discuss the non-symphonic works of the composer.

To complement the Canton Symphony Orchestra programming, the historic Canton Palace Theatre will present two films that focus on the life and music of the famed musician. On March 19th, the theatre will show Immortal Beloved, a 1994 film starring Gary Oldman that tells the story of a mysterious letter written by Beethoven to his "immortal beloved." The identity of the recipient of the letter is a continued subject of debate among music scholars. Then, on April 9th the theatre will show Following the Ninth: In the Footsteps of Beethoven's Final Symphony. This documentary follows the story of four people from around the world who were profoundly influenced by Beethoven's music. Tickets for these films are $5 each.

In keeping with the theme, the Palace will also present the family films Beethovenand Beethoven's 2nd as the free First Friday offerings in March and April. These films follow the antics of a St. Bernard named after the composer, and his family, the Newtons.

For a complete schedule of the events in the Beethoven Festival call the Canton Symphony Orchestra box office at 330-452-2094 or visit http://cantonsymphony.org/beethoven-festival.

Founded in 1937, the Canton Symphony Orchestra is a fully professional ensemble and organization dedicated to performing concerts that enrich, educate and entertain residents of Stark County and beyond. The orchestra performs classical, holiday, and a variety of educational programs in Umstattd Performing Arts Hall, 2323 17th Street NW, Canton, Ohio, as well as other venues in Stark County. For more information, please visit www.cantonsymphony.org or call (330)452-2094. Administrative offices are located at 2331 17th Street NW, Canton OH 44708.

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