The world needs music now more than ever.
That鈥檚 the message from the 麻豆传媒映画Symphony Orchestra, which is offering up a virtual finale this afternoon to its ongoing Beethoven Festival. The festival, marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven鈥檚 birth, was cut abruptly short after new health restrictions came into place Thursday banning mass gatherings, to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
The VSO, under the baton of Maestro Otto Tausk, will perform Beethoven鈥檚 Sixth Symphony (Pastorale) direct from the Orpheum Theatre 鈥� and livestream it so audiences can enjoy it from the safety and comfort of their own homes.
The program will also include pianist Saleem Ashkar joining the VSO for Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4.
鈥淢usic and the arts are the heart of our community. We are facing unprecedented times and we need music now more than ever,鈥� wrote Angela Elster, VSO president and CEO, in a message to orchestra audiences.
鈥淚n the last few days we have seen a global philosophical 鈥榗oming together鈥� in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. We have听committed to physically distance ourselves from one another to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our community. It鈥檚 the right thing to do.
鈥淚ronically, it鈥檚 precisely in times of crisis that the human spirit is compelled to come together. The word 鈥榮ymphony鈥� in fact means coming together. As such, ... Maestro Tausk and the musicians of the VSO invite you to come together with us in a virtual finale to BeethovenFest.鈥�
You can watch the livestream here at 2 p.m. this afternoon (Sunday, March 15).
For full details of the VSO鈥檚 response to the COVID-19 situation, see a message on its website here .
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