CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Continuing yet another stellar season of bringing live classical music to Southern Utah, the Southwest Symphony invites audiences to experience the epic power and timelessness of Beethoven’s monumental Ninth Symphony. Performances are slated for Friday and Saturday, March 3-4, at the Cox Performing Arts Center in St. George.
Widely regarded as Beethoven’s magnum opus and a supreme achievement in music history, the Ninth Symphony remains one of the most frequently performed classical works worldwide. The Southwest Symphony‘s performances will mark the Southern Utah debut of this iconic masterpiece, which symbolizes and honors equality, freedom and brotherhood for all mankind.
“Even more important to me than the impact it had on music, however, is the message and its impact on the audience and on humanity,” music director Lucas Darger said. “I think this symphony is a message of hope.”
Unique among symphonic works of its time, the Ninth Symphony combines three instrumental movements with a choral finale, the unforgettable “Ode to Joy.” The Southwest Symphony will be joined onstage by Lieto Voices!, a community choir based in the St. George area, as well as four professional vocal soloists: Shea Owens, Aubrey Adams-McMillan, Emily Workman and Grammy Award winner Thomas Glenn.
Beethoven composed his last and most highly acclaimed symphony 12 years after his Eighth Symphony. By that time, he was almost completely deaf and had witnessed the brutality of both the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. It premiered in Vienna during the late spring of 1824, less than three years before his death.
“It’s one of the most influential works of all time,” Darger said. “It’s incredible to think that at this time 200 years ago, Beethoven would have been working on it.”
The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. on both nights. Ticket prices range between $15.50 and $36 depending on the section and may be purchased online or by calling the Utah Tech University ticket office at 435-652-7800. Discounted tickets are available for seniors and students, as well as when purchasing four or more tickets to the same performance.
The Southwest Symphony’s 42nd performance season is an exciting and diverse series of concerts featuring everything from Handel’s “Messiah” to the iconic songs of James Bond. Their next show, scheduled for March 31, is sure to delight the entire family with a lively rendition of Saint-Saëns’s “Carnival of the Animals.” The Southern Utah Youth Orchestra will help bring to life a humorous cast of characters, from the graceful swan to the boisterous elephant.
Originally assembled as a handful of local musicians seeking a venue for sharing classical music with the community, the Southwest Symphony is now an auditioned group of about 80 professional and skilled amateur performers. Although the musicians receive a small stipend for their participation, it’s essentially a volunteer organization supported by a combination of ticket sales, grants, corporate sponsorships and private donations.
Darger said the people of Southern Utah always have been extremely generous in their patronage of the performing arts, and the musicians and staff of the Southwest Symphony work tirelessly to produce quality concerts every season. The symphony has won the Best of State award for community orchestra three years in a row, a recognition that speaks to the dedication and talent of every person involved.
“They’re very passionate about it, and they love what they’re doing,” he added. “It’s really a gem for our community to have an orchestra of this level in this small of a city.”
Visit the Southwest Symphony website to purchase tickets and learn how your support helps advance the performing arts in Southern Utah.
Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.
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Event details
- What: Southwest Symphony presents “Ode to Joy: Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.”
- When: Friday and Saturday, March 3-4, starting at 7:30 p.m.
- Where: Cox Performing Arts Center, 335 S. 700 East, St. George.
- Tickets: Premium $28.50-$36; area 1 $24-$30; area 2 $18-$22.50; area 3 $15.50-$19.50.
- Resources: Website.
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