05/18/2018, 8:00 PM

05/19/2018, 8:00 PM

Ronaldo Miranda - Variações Temporais, Beethoven Revisado (Temporal Variations, Beethoven Revised)
Alexander Miller World Premiere
Beethoven Symphony No. 9, "Choral"

Marcelo Lehninger Conductor  | Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus, Pearl Shangkuan, Director

Much of classical music speaks of humanity’s desire to live as one and in peace. Greatest of all is the the Ninth Symphony of Beethoven. To close the season, Marcelo Lehninger has chosen to present the Symphony No. 9 alongside a brand-new work by Grand Rapids Symphony’s own Ale Miller, plus a set of orchestral variations honoring Beethoven written by his fellow Brazilian composer Ronaldo Miranda. Beethoven’s final symphony invokes a merciful God whom Beethoven is certain will lead humankind to eternal brotherhood. Though cloaked in a humanistic poem by Schiller, the text to the ‘’Ode to Joy’ that concludes the Ninth Symphony leaves no doubt in the end how Beethoven feels we will achieve universal understanding among nations. The final lines are in part:“Be embraced, you millions…above the canopy of stars must dwell a loving Father. Seek Him above the canopy of stars!”