MAESTRO'S MUSINGS by YAACOV BERGMAN

Beethoven Unlimited - Saturday, October 2, 2004 at 8pm and Sunday, October 3, 2004 at 3 pm

The Egmont performance which opens the 2004-2005 Season of the Portland Chamber Orchestra, PCO, brings to Portland a never-before presented original version of a rarely heard collaborative work created by the great German masters of Letters and Music, Goethe and Beethoven. Egmont, set in time near the dawn of the Reformation, plays through the lives of true historical characters caught in the terrorizing fever of the Spanish Inquisition. Egmont explores the explosive, hope-filled clash between tyranny and freedom.

The unique "retelling" of the Egmont story which launches this PCO Season, woven as Goethe would have planned it through the complete Beethoven score, presents the drama of events through the eyes of a very special witness -- an authoring witness -- who was "there" when the roots of the story took place, and who, with dedicated and timeless intention, has appeared to be with and speak to us now.

Egmont, set in time near the dawn of the Reformation, plays through the lives of true historical characters caught in the terrorizing fever of the Spanish Inquisition. Egmont explores the explosive, hope-filled clash between tyranny and freedom.

Chin Kim, violinist in Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D major,is one of the most versatile and sought-after violinists today, concertizing extensively throughout North America, Asia, and Europe.The solo violin part is exceedingly difficult requiring a level of virtuosity that few violinists of the era could come close to. With its frequent changes in dynamics, critics deemed it unplayable. We welcome the opportunity to hear Chin Kim's expertise in performance.