Portland Symphony Orchestra launches three-season Beethoven cycle with “Pastorale” concerts

PORTLAND — The Portland Symphony Orchestra will kick off a three-season cycle this month featuring all nine of Beethoven’s symphonies. Conducted by Maestro Robert Moody, the cycle will begin with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 “Pastorale,” at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, and at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, at Merrill Auditorium.

The concert opens with Mozart’s overture to “Don Giovanni,” followed by Brahms’ Violin Concerto, performed by guest violinist Jennifer Frautschi. Finally, the symphony will perform Beethoven’s “Pastorale.”

“This concert marks the beginning of a series I’m thrilled to be able to present with the Portland Symphony Orchestra,” noted Moody. “It’s rare to be able to hear all of Beethoven’s Symphonies performed by one orchestra, and we’ll be doing just that over the next three seasons. We’ve already heard from many patrons how excited they are to ‘collect them all.’”

Beethoven referred to “Pastorale” as “more an expression of feelings than a painting,” a sentiment that becomes clear early on in the piece. A love for nature led Beethoven to spend much of his free time in rural settings, and his affinity for the natural world is evident in each movement of the symphony. An expression of cheerful feelings throughout melds with the countryside serenity and appreciation for nature.

Frautschi is a two-time Grammy nominee whose wide range leaves her equally at home in both the classic and contemporary repertoire. Her musical endeavors have taken her around the world as both a soloist and chamber artist to perform internationally at Pharo’s Trust in Cyprus, the Kutna Hora Festival in the Czech Republic, and many more. As a soloist, she has appeared with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the Ravinia Festival, and at Wigmore Hall and Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival, among others.

The Beethoven symphonies continue on Feb. 15 and 17 with the “Eroica” concerts, which will feature the premiere of a brand new composition based on the works of Beethoven from Michael-Thomas Foumai, the winner of the PSO’s Young American Composer Competition. For a preview of his creative process, visit the PSO’s YouTube page.

The final Beethoven concert of the 2014-15 season will be Beethoven’s Seventh on April 19 and 21.

In addition, to introduce young fans to the composer, the PSO’s KinderKonzert series delves into the life and times of Ludwig von Beethoven, from the music he listened to as a child to his earliest compositions and even his ability to persevere through hearing loss and continue to compose incredible symphonies.

Related Concert Activities:

A Concert Conversation, free for all ticket holders, will be held in the Rehearsal Hall at Merrill Auditorium beginning an hour and 15 minutes prior to each concert.

An on-stage PostConcert Q & A with guest artists will follow the concert.

The concert will be broadcast on MPBN at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11.

Tickets to the concert range from $25-$75 and are available at 207-842-0800 or www.porttix.com. Phone and internet orders are subject to per-ticket handling fees. Tickets may also be purchased at 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m.