Emanuel Ax Plays Beethoven

Alexander Shelley pairs bold contemporary voices with timeless classics as Pacific Symphony welcomes legendary pianist Emanuel Ax in a prelude to the Beethoven Revolution Festival with Beethoven’s poetic Piano Concerto No. 4. Long admired for his depth, clarity and humanity at the keyboard, Ax brings a lifetime of insight to one of Beethoven’s most intimate masterworks.

“Emanuel Ax offers Beethoven playing of rare clarity, humanity, and profound insight.” — The New York Times

Shelley contrasts the shimmering sound world of Moussa’s Elysium with the vibrant grandeur of Mozart’s Symphony No. 31, “Paris.” The program then pivots with a brilliant jolt as Unsuk Chin’s Subito con forza ignites the hall with its electrifying burst of energy—setting the stage for Ax’s transcendent Beethoven.

With Image Magnification on the big screen for a closer look at the artists.