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Alabama Symphony Orchestra

Beethoven + Bartók

Patrons will receive a voucher good for redemption for two tickets to any of the three concerts performed November 22nd-November 23rd.

Patrons will receive a voucher good for redemption for two tickets to any of the three concerts performed November 22nd-November 23rd.

11/22/25 - 11 am Coffee Concert
11/22/25 - 7 pm Masterworks Concert
11/23/25 - 7 pm Masterworks Concert

Vouchers MUST be picked up before Wednesday, November 20th, or they will go to the next person on the waiting list. 

Step into a world where two iconic composers—separated by over a century—collide in an unforgettable evening of music. Join the Alabama Symphony Orchestra  as we perform Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 and Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra in a concert that showcases both the brilliance of the Classical era and the bold innovations of the 20th century.

The program opens with Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony, a work full of surprises and contrasts. Composed in 1812, it stands as a testament to Beethoven’s playful yet complex genius. While it may not boast the fame of his more dramatic works, the Eighth Symphony is a vibrant exploration of shifting dynamics and rich counterpoint, brimming with sudden bursts of energy, lyrical charm, and moments of profound beauty. Beethoven masterfully weaves idyllic episodes with furious cross-rhythms, delivering a symphony that’s as technically intricate as it is emotionally captivating.

In the second half of the program, the ASO will debut Béla Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra, a thrilling composition that challenges and redefines the symphonic form. Bartók brings together the rigor of Western art music with the vibrant, earthy sounds of Eastern European folk traditions, especially from his native Hungary. Unlike a typical concerto, where one instrument takes center stage, Bartók’s work showcases the entire orchestra, allowing each section to shine. His use of non-traditional scales and modal harmonies pushes the boundaries of tonality, creating an adventurous soundscape that feels at once familiar and otherworldly.

With its sweeping orchestration and intricate interplay between instruments, Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra is a tour de force of modern music, a piece that invites the audience to experience the full spectrum of orchestral color and expression.

Don’t miss this chance to experience two masterworks that push the boundaries of symphonic music in ways that are both timeless and groundbreaking.