Beethoven’s Sixth

The Performance

Music Director James Kahane opens the season with Beethoven Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral” in Hamilton, alongside works by Berlioz and Chausson. Together, these pieces set the stage for a spectacular new season. The evening begins with Berlioz’s dazzling Roman Carnival Overture, bursting with colour and vitality. Inspired by his opera Benvenuto Cellini, this showpiece overflows with sweeping melodies, sparkling orchestration, and irresistible rhythmic energy.

From there, the atmosphere shifts to the introspective beauty of Ernest Chausson’s Poème for violin and orchestra. Violinist Jessica Linnebach brings a richly expressive voice to the work, unfolding its rhapsodic lines with both intimacy and intensity. Next, a highlight of the evening is the premiere of a new work by 26-27 Composer Fellow Leo Purich. This piece brings a contemporary voice to the stage and underscores the orchestra’s commitment to creativity and innovation.

The concert culminates in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 in F major “Pastoral”— one of the most beloved works in the orchestral repertoire. A radiant tribute to the natural world, the Pastoral unfolds across five evocative movements—from birdsong and bubbling brooks to a dramatic summer storm and a serene hymn of gratitude. Rather than depicting nature literally, Beethoven invites us to experience its joy, power, and profound sense of peace.

Listen to the Music