Beethoven at 250
A Conversation with Music Director Michael Slon and Richard Will, UVA Professor and Beethoven Scholar
Monday, November 23rd, 2020
at 7:30 PM on Zoom and YouTube Live
Monday, November 23rd - 7:30 PM
Held via Zoom (email address required):
This year marks the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birth. Ever the icon as a symphonic composer, we will explore further outside the realm of Ode to Joy, venturing into some of the master’s choral staples, including Mass in C Major, as well as the seminal Missa Solemnis.
All choral music lovers are invited to join in for a lively video lecture, with Q&A to follow, between Music Director Michael Slon and Prof. Richard Will, noted Beethoven scholar and UVA professor.
With special thanks to:
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About the music
The evening will cover much of Beethoven’s contribution to the choral singing, as well as its own place within his larger compositional output. Largely thought of by classical music lovers as a composer of symphonies, string quartets, and piano sonatas, each of which comprise categories of their own, Beethoven’s choral music has offered scholars, conductors, and performers much to think about.
Was the great instrumental master unconventional in his choral writing, or perhaps simply less skilled than his contemporaries? We’ll unpack this and much more over the course of the evening. In the meantime, we hope you’ll enjoy some of the recordings below, specially selected by our guest scholar, Richard Will.
Thank you to our arts partners!
Special thanks to our corporate sponsors:
About our Guest Speaker
Truly a multi-faceted musician – singer, writer, critic, and bluegrass fiddler – Professor Richard Will currently serves as Chair of the Department of Drama at the University of Virginia. His writing and teaching span musical traditions ranging from classical to folk, examining the sources of both American and European artistic traditions.
Thank you to our arts partners!
Do you like what you’re hearing from us?
Thanks to the generosity of many, The Oratorio Society of Virginia has had the privilege of serving our community by sharing the transformative power and joy of choral singing for over 50 years. Even in light of public health restrictions, due to COVID-19, we will continue to carry this mission forward by offering digital concert and lecture experiences throughout the year, until we can safely welcome our community back to the concert hall. It is thanks to your support that we are able to do this. Please consider making a tax-deductible gift today!
About our Music Director
Michael Slon joined The Oratorio Society of Virginia as its Music Director in 2011. In the decade since, he has overseen advancement of both the musicianship and mission of our chorus, including the creation of new regional artistic partnerships, community benefits, and The Society’s annual spring favorite, Together in Song, a concert and masterclass for community singers.
Thank you to our arts partners!
The Oratorio Society Singers, 2020-21 Season
Soprano
Kimberly Allen
Hayley Austin
Casey Baber
Ellen Bessell
Kate Donovan
Kirra Hyde
Heidi M. Kupke
Celia Lankford
* Kimberly Lauter
Katie Manning
* † Margaret O’Bryant
* Suzanne Schaeffer
Theresa Scruggs
Hannah Slayton
Alanna Smith
Judy Smith
Taylor Stukenborg
Marlene Thacker
Leah Wayner
Alto
Sheila Borger
Marie Callahan
Carol Diggs
Angela Herstek-Zongilla
Julia Hilkey
Virginia Hill
Margaret Holstege
* Karen Honeycutt
* Kelly Kennedy
* Diane Kingsbury
Linda Leshowitz
Karen Marsh
Joanie McGuire
Liz McQuade
Erin Palombi
Lily Perkowski
Lizzy Ramey
Serena Scott Thomas
Barbara Shaffer
Sarah Shalf
* Katy Sinclair
Trish Smith
Joy Tobias
Sharon Utz
Caroline Wilhelm
Amanda Williams
Bass
Jason Boehmer
Andreas Broscheid
* Matthew Butterman
Josh Crockett
Bob Dickman
Ron Gaykema
Michael Goetz
* Steve Harris
Craig Schneiders
* † Frank Sherwood
* Roger Shields
Yuji Shinozaki
Fred Simon
Paulius Sinkora
David Tate
* Jan Tobias
Matthew Zimmerman
Rehearsal Accompanist
Daniel Hine
* Board of Directors
† Officer
Tenor
Timothy Allen
James Atkins
Jim Boyd
Dorian Brown
* † Drene DeGood
Chris Duska
Wayne Gammon
John Jesus
Carrol Kinsey
* George Nowacek
Devon Weidner
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