Breaking Point Era

We live in a time when what seems solid can quickly shift. Where strong leaders gather hope and expectations, but can also show another side once power is secured. It was the same in Europe around Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. Ideas of freedom and renewal were strong, but were tested in the face of power and ambition. Beethoven saw in Napoleon Bonaparte a symbol of something new – before he distanced himself when the ideals showed cracks. With Mozart's Symphony No. 39, we are at a point where the classical symphony truly takes hold. The form, structure, and orchestral sound feel unified and natural. With Beethoven, much of the same is still present, but something is changing. The music has more power, greater contrasts, and an energy that pushes forward. Both works were written in a time of great movement. This is music that carries with it both what is in place – and what is becoming something else. That is how it can also be experienced today. Join us for an evening where this tension becomes clear, as our musicians together with Arvid Engegård delve into the core repertoire from the golden age of Viennese classicism. Program Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Symphony No. 39 in E flat major Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 2 in D major ​ Participants Arvid Engegård, guest conductor