San Francisco Chamber Orchestra Rings in the New Year With Beethoven's Triple Concerto in C Major

The San Francisco Chamber Orchestra will ring in the New Year with Beethoven's Triple Concerto in C Major for Piano, Violin, Cello and Orchestra, Opus 56. This unusual concerto written in 1804 was a time of unbelievable creativity for Beethoven. During this period, he was composing Symphony No. 3, began the Waldstein Sonata, and made sketches for the Appassionata Sonata and for his opera Leonore (later renamed Fidelio). Beethoven composed his Triple Concerto for his pupil and patron, the Archduke Rudolph of Austria, who was a pianist and amateur composer.

Beethoven's choice of piano, violin and cello is unprecedented in the literature. The music is expansive, relaxed and agreeable combining the scale of Beethoven's grand concerto style with instrumental dialogues among the soloists in a manner more typical of chamber music. The Delphi Trio joins SFCO for this performance. They are known for their deeply communicative "spot-on ensemble playing and a beautifully blended sound" (San Francisco Classical Voice) and for capturing "those evocative qualities that one would associate with the best of lyric poetry" (San Francisco Examiner). The program also includes the Overture to Haydn's opera L'isola disabitata. The Overture, sometimes referred to as a miniature symphony, is a fine example of Haydn's Sturm und Drang style. This style refers to a practice of releasing sudden, wild emotion which is given free expression in contrast to the enlightenment aesthetic value of emotional control and rationalism.

Soprano Christine Brandes rounds out the program with three of Mozart's most famous concert arias: Vado, ma dove, K. 583, Bella mia fiamma, K. 528 and Ch'io mi scordi di te, K. 505. Brandes is noted for her crystalline voice and superb musicianship, bringing her committed artistry to repertoire ranging from the 17th century to newly composed works. She enjoys an active career in North America and abroad, performing at many of the world's most distinguished festivals and concert series.

The concerts will be performed at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco on December 30 at 3:00pm, at 7:30pm on New Year's Eve at Hertz Hall in Berkeley, and on New Year's Day at 3:00 at First United Methodist Church in Palo Alto,

Performances are free to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, with reserved seating for members. General admission beings fifteen minutes prior to performance time. More information about the concert and how to become a member may be obtained at www.theSFCO.org or by calling 415-463-6710.