“Music can change the world” — Ludwig van Beethoven

From exhilarating joy to profound sorrow and spirituality, this program runs the gamut of human emotion. 

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 delights with wit, warmth, and bursts of vitality. From its mysterious introduction to its joyful finale, this symphony reveals Beethoven at his most playful and inventive. Sandwiched between two symphonic giants, Eroica and Symphony No. 5, his charming Fourth may not be as frequently performed, but it is nonetheless a magnificent work.

Rossini’s grand choral masterpiece, Stabat Mater offers a striking contrast to Beethoven’s breezy Fourth. Known for his comedic brilliance, Rossini surprises with this deeply moving setting of the 13th-century hymn to the Virgin Mary that portrays her suffering as a mother during the crucifixion of her son, Jesus Christ. Blending sacred reverence with dramatic intensity, the Stabat Mater is a powerful meditation on sorrow and faith, brought to life by luminous vocal soloists and the South Florida Symphony Chorus.