ABOUT THE EVENT

David Neely, music director

The UMD Symphony Orchestra presents its season finale concert, celebrating with works by three of the most influential composers of all time.

Ludwig van Beethoven’s Overture to Coriolanus was written for Heinrich Joseph von Collin’s play based on one of Shakespeare’s less frequently performed tragedies. While Shakespeare’s original work depicts the story of a Roman general’s journey from brutality to tenderness, Beethoven did not want to give too much of the plot away with a single movement. He instead stressed the overarching moods through musical themes, capturing Coriolanus’ resolve and the compassionate pleadings of his mother in sound.

Maurice Ravel’s La valse sparked much debate when it premiered. While Ravel claimed that the waltz was meant to be a composition of “hallucinatory ecstasy,” listeners heard something more sinister: a struggle between life and death. Whirling instrumentation, coupled with the signature lilt of the waltz, make this piece an adrenaline rush reminiscent of the ballrooms of old.

The program concludes with Johannes Brahms’ third symphony, a poignant and rich composition that was written in just four months. Moments of tension and release throughout the piece, coupled with an unforgettable, bittersweet third movement, make this one of the composer’s most well-loved symphonies.

PROGRAM

Ludwig van Beethoven: Overture to Coriolanus
Maurice Ravel: La valse
Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 3

ABOUT THE UMD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Through its committed and polished performances under the baton of David Neely, UMSO is dedicated to the power of musical communication. In its repertoire, the orchestra explores the intersection between traditional symphonic masterworks and marginalized works from various eras, with many programs featuring composers of diverse backgrounds.