The Winston-Salem Symphony and Music Director Michelle Merrill will present two Classics Series concerts featuring Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and two of his other masterworks with roots in his opera Fidelio. A recent work by composer Carlos Simon rounds out the program. Guest vocalists Kathryn Mueller, Laurel Semerdjian, Scott Ramsay, and Jason McKinney will join the Winston-Salem Symphony Chorus, Wake Forest University Choir and Winston-Salem State University Singing Rams.
In 1824, audiences experienced Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony for the first time, and our musical world was forever transformed. The Symphony invites the community to celebrate the 200th anniversary of this iconic masterpiece as the orchestra and chorus bring the glorious “Ode to Joy” to life. Immerse yourself in this immortal work's transcendent beauty and message of unity as we explore why Beethoven’s music continues to resonate with music lovers worldwide. Renowned for integrating vocal soloists and chorus in the final movement, the Ninth Symphony was a groundbreaking work that paved the way for the future of symphonic music.
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The first half of the concert will feature Beethoven's Leonore Overture No. 3 and the quartet "Mir ist so Wunderbar" from his opera Fidelio. Complementing these historical pieces, Fate Now Conquers by Carlos Simon is inspired by Beethoven’s journals and passages from the Seventh Symphony, offering a modern reflection on the Beethoven’s enduring influence.
Michelle Merrill was once told, “You’ll never forget your first Beethoven Nine” by famed conductor Leonard Slatkin. “Whether you’ve heard the Ninth before or this is your first time, this concert will be a memorable experience. It is awe-inspiring to hear this fantastic symphony by a true master of the art form,” said Merrill.
The public can learn more about Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 at a free screening of Following the Ninth at a/perture Cinema on Tuesday, April 2 at 6:30 p.m. Attendees are invited to stay after the film for a panel discussion featuring David Levy (Professor Emeritus of Music at Wake Forest University and author of the book Beethoven: The Ninth Symphony), Carol Reynolds (musicologist and college mentor to Michelle Merrill at Southern Methodist University), Christopher Ogburn (Director of Programming and Resident Musicologist at the Moravian Music Foundation), and moderated by musicologist Kate Storhoff. This event is supported in part by North Carolina Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Mayor Allen Joines designated Ninth Street as Beethoven’s Ninth Street. A commemorative street sign was installed at the Trade and Ninth Streets intersection in Industry Hill. Wise Man Brewing Company on the newly minted street has joined the celebration by temporarily renaming their German lager as “Ode to a Lager.” One dollar from each sale of this decadent Czech-style dark lager on Thursdays during March will go to the Winston-Salem Symphony. Radar Brewing Company, another brewery along Beethoven’s Ninth Street, will join the fun by helping to promote the show.
The concert occurs at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2024, and at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, 2024, at Wait Chapel on Wake Forest University's campus. Tickets start at $29 and can be purchased online at wssymphony.org or by calling the Box Office at (336) 464-0145.
Beethoven’s Ninth concerts are sponsored by Season Presenting Sponsor Bell, Davis, & Pitt, P.A.; Concert Sponsor Salemtowne; and Chorus Series Sponsor AM Erectors.
About the Soloists
Grammy-nominated soprano Kathryn Mueller returns to Winston-Salem after last performing with the Symphony in 2022’s Messiah. Her soprano registers, with a crystalline sound, personal warmth, and musicianship, are well-regarded nationwide. Her wide-ranging repertoire includes period baroque performances to premieres of new works.
Laurel Semerdjian is an up-and-coming mezzo-soprano of Armenian descent. She was recently hailed as "a dramatic and musical tour de force" (Pittsburgh Tribune) for portraying Asakir in Mohammed Fairouz's Sumeida's Song with Pittsburgh Opera. Praised for a voice with "guttural low notes" (Pittsburgh Post Gazette) and "appealing weight, intensity, and flexibility," she is quickly making a name for herself across the country.
Scott Ramsay, a highly acclaimed tenor praised by the Los Angeles Times for his "stentorian, strong" voice, is celebrated globally by opera companies and symphony orchestras. He is known for dynamic performances spanning Bel Canto to contemporary works with repertoire, including roles in Salome, Lulu, and A Streetcar Named Desire, showcasing his versatility. Ramsay's symphonic engagements include solo appearances with esteemed orchestras like the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra.
Baritone Jason McKinney is a University of North Carolina School of the Arts graduate. McKinney has premiered works by notable composers and performed at esteemed venues worldwide, including The Kennedy Center, The White House, and European opera houses. Onstage, he has excelled in roles like Porgy in Porgy & Bess, Don Giovanni, and Colline in Puccini’s La bohème. Offstage, McKinney serves as a cantor in his synagogue and composes Jewish liturgical music for Temple Emmanuel in Winston-Salem.
About the Winston-Salem Symphony
Proud to be one of the Southeast's most highly regarded regional orchestras, the Winston-Salem Symphony premiered in 1947. Today, under the direction of new Music Director Michelle Merrill, the Symphony fulfills its mission to "Bring Music to Life" by inspiring listeners of all ages throughout North Carolina's Piedmont Triad with various concerts, education programs, and community engagement initiatives each year.
This concert and the Winston-Salem Symphony are supported by Season Presenting Sponsors Bell, Davis & Pitt, P.A.; Symphony Chorus Sponsors, AM Erectors; Chris and Mike Morykwas; the Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County; and the North Carolina Arts Council.
Subscriptions and single tickets can be purchased online at wssymphony.org or by calling the Symphony Box Office at 336-464-0145.