A look into the neuroscience of his genius followed by an evening of his most iconic works
This concert is sponsored by the generous support of the Richard B. Siegel Foundation.
Saturday, March 23, Pre-concert Lecture begins at 6:30 / Concert Begins at 7:30
| Kaul Auditorium at Reed College
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By Dr. Larry S. Sherman, Ph.D. Neuroscientist and author of Every Brain Needs Music: The Neuroscience of Making and Listening to Music
Nearly 197 years ago, Ludwig van Beethoven died in Vienna, Austria, at the age of 56. Toward the end of his life, he suffered from chronic pain. But through it all, he created some of the most innovative and lasting music in human history. Dr. Sherman will explore the neuroscience behind Beethoven's musical talent and explore how recent revelations about his genetic background and health impacted his creativity.
Mei-Ting Sun, piano
Ken Selden, conductor
Portland Chamber Orchestra
Program:
Beethoven - Coriolan Overture
Beethoven - Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major
Beethoven - Symphony No. 7 in A Major
Any single orchestral work by Beethoven is filled with so many rich harmonies and raw emotions that it can satisfy even the most insatiable of musical appetites. However, when you program three iconic works of the composer in one program it becomes a veritable feast for the senses. Composed in the shadow of the French Revolution, the Coriolan Overture and the Seventh Symphony exemplify the range of Beethoven's musical style: dramatic, incisive, audacious, heartfelt, and intensely lyrical. Pianist Mei-Ting Sun, a long time PCO audience favorite, joins the orchestra in Beethoven's radiant Fourth Piano Concerto.
About Mei-Ting
“Stunningly fluid” -- New York Times
“A tour de force” -- El Periódico de Aragón
“Astonishing” -- New York Post
“Bewitching … Superb” -- Boston Globe
“Immense sound … of orchestral size, both in amplitude and color” -- Minnesota Star Tribune
“Of utmost virtuosity and elegance” -- El Comercio, Perú
Critically acclaimed pianist Mei-Ting has been heard in many of the world's greatest concert halls performing an extensive repertoire that includes the complete works for solo piano of Brahms, Chopin, and Debussy, in addition to all 32 Sonatas of Beethoven. After winning several major competitions, including the first Piano-e competition and the National Chopin Competition of the U.S., Mei-Ting's career has taken him throughout most of the U.S., Latin America, Asia, and Europe, at venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York, Auditorio Nacional in Madrid, Tonhalle in Zurich, and Obecni Dum in Prague. His career has led him to performances in 21 countries through five continents.