The Columbus Symphony Orchestra (CSO) will perform the works of two great composers on November 13thwith “The Greats: Beethoven & Schubert” presented by TSYS. The concert will begin at 7:30 PM and will be performed in the Bill Heard Theatre at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts.  

Music Director and Conductor, George Del Gobbo commented, “Beethoven was the genius who drove the transition from the Classical to the Romantic period in music. His work compares to that of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Shakespeare, and Bach as the greatest expressions of the human spirit. Schubert was an approximate contemporary of Beethoven's. His music is marked by his unparalleled melodic gift, a lyrical gift possessed by few others.”

Violinist Benjamin Beilman, recipient of the Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship, Avery Fisher Career Grant, and London Music Masters Award joins the CSO to play Beethoven’s masterful violin concerto. This is Beethoven’s only concerto composed for the violin and is one of the most popular pieces for solo violin and orchestra. Beilman has won international praise both for his passionate performances and deep rich tone which the Washington Post called “mightily impressive,” and the Strad described his playing as “pure poetry.” A 2018 feature in The Boston Globeremarked that Beilman’s “playing already has its own sure balance of technical command, intensity, and interpretive finesse.”

Beilman replaces Angelo Xiang Yu who was originally scheduled to perform but Yu is unable to travel into the United States due to current COVID restrictions for international travellers. Del Gobbo commented, “We are happy to welcome Benjamin Beilman to the CSO. When our scheduled guest violinist was unable to arrange travel to and from China, thus necessitating the change, we were delighted to learn of Benjamin's availability. We have been interested in collaborating with him for a number of years, but he was never available, Fate has intervened.”

The evening will conclude with Schubert's Symphony No. 9 in C Major also known as “The Great.” It was the last symphony written by Schubert. It premiered over a decade after Schubert’s death under the direction of Felix Mendelssohn. From the number of movements to the compositional style, the piece indicates the deep musical influence that Beethoven had on his composition making it a perfect pairing for the evening’s concert.

To enhance the concert experience, the CSO offers an accompanying video series that gives insight into the composers and works being performed called Know the Score featuring Del Gobbo. Know the Score will be available online at csoga.org and on social media one week prior to the concert.

Tickets can be purchased online at csoga.org/tickets or in-person at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts located at 900 Broadway, Columbus, Ga. Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 5:30 PM (Broadway entrance). Single ticket prices range from $10-$39. Subscribers save up to 20% off the adult single ticket price, get first pick of the best seats, can purchase additional tickets at a discount, and avoid any online ticketing fees. This concert will be socially distanced in the theater. Limited pairs of seats are available to purchase online. Parties of 3 or more can purchase a block of tickets in-person through the RiverCenter Box Office.

The RiverCenter for the Performing Arts requires all staff, visitors and patrons to wear a mask at all times regardless of vaccination status with no exceptions. The theater and all public areas are sanitized after each performance. Persons experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms or have been in contact with anyone who tested positive within the past 15 days are discouraged from entering the facility.

The Columbus Symphony Orchestra, formed in 1855, is the second orchestra founded in the nation and the first founded in Georgia. The CSO, under the direction of George Del Gobbo, has long been considered one of the Southeast’s premier musical ensembles. The CSO’s performance venue at RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, Bill Heard Theatre, seats 2,000 patrons and provides a state-of-the-art visual and acoustic experience. For more information about the CSO visit our website at csoga.org.