Emmanuel 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.