Beethoven Revolution Festival

Hear the music that changed everything. Join Maestro Alexander Shelley for a two-week festival celebrating the revolutionary whose impact transcended music itself. 

Beethoven blazed trails. Now it's your turn. Join Pacific Symphony for a bucket-list festival for the ages, right here in Orange County! Experience all nine symphonies in chronological order with a different program each night!  

Week 1 of our festival features symphonies 1 through 4 and the orchestral world premiere of Beethoven: I Shall Hear in Heaven, a powerful, award-winning music-play that will take listeners on a journey through Beethoven’s life and indomitable spirit with excerpts from his concertos, sonatas, and symphonies, including selections from the Sixth, Seventh, and Ninth. Week 2 features symphonies 5 through 9, including the famous "Ode to Joy" finale.

As a prelude to the festival, esteemed pianist Emanual Ax join the orchestra to perform Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4.

Festival Prelude
EMANUEL AX PLAYS BEETHOVEN
January 16, 2027 | 8:00 PM
MOUSSA: Elysium
MOZART: Symphony No. 31, “Paris”
UNSUK CHIN: Subito con forza
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 4

THE YOUNG REVOLUTIONARY
Thursday, January 28 , 2027 | 8 PM
Beethoven: Overture to Coriolan
Beethoven: Symphony No. 1
Beethoven: Symphony No. 2

HERO & INNOVATOR
Friday, January 29 , 2027 | 8 PM
Beethoven: Symphony No. 3, “Eroica”
Beethoven: Symphony No. 4

SPECIAL THEATRICAL EVENT – BEETHOVEN - I SHALL HEAR IN HEAVEN
Saturday, January 30, 2027 | 8 PM
Dramatic concert presentation includes excerpts from Beethoven’s concertos, sonatas, and symphonies, including selections from the Sixth, Seventh, and Ninth. Written by Tama Matheson and performed by Tama Matheson,  Suzy Kohane, and Pacific Symphony.

MIGHTY FIFTH & PASTORAL
Thursday, February 4, 2027 | 8 PM
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral”

DANCE & DELIGHT
Friday, February 5, 2027 | 8 PM
Beethoven: Symphony No. 7
Beethoven: Symphony No. 8

ODE TO JOY
Saturday, February 6, 2027 | 8 PM
Sunday, February 7, 2027 | 3 PM
Tuesday, February 9, 2027 | 8PM

Alexander Shelley, conductor
Susanna Phillips, soprano
Kelley O’Connor, mezzo-soprano
Matthew Cairns, tenor
Dashon Burton, bass-baritone
Pacific Chorale —  Robert Istad, artistic director

Runestad: A Silence Haunts Me
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, “Choral”