Press Room

Oct 26, 2022

SAN FRANCISCO, CA—Conductor Xian Zhang leads the San Francisco Symphony, Chorus, and vocal soloists including soprano Gabriella Reyes, mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Connor, tenor Issachah Savage, and bass Reginald Smith, Jr., in Ludwig van Beethoven’s monumental Symphony No. 9, December 1–3, 2022. Fueled by principles of freedom and equality, Beethoven crafted his Ninth Symphony in an epic struggle between despair and transcendence to reach new heights with the words “all men become brothers.” The symphony’s famous last movement, “Ode to Joy,” adapted from Friedrich Schiller’s poem, is widely considered to be one of the most poignant musical proclamations for humanity.

The program opens with the SF Symphony premiere of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Ballade, Opus 33. Commissioned and premiered in 1889 by the Three Choirs Festival in Britian on the advice of Coleridge-Taylor’s teacher and mentor, Edward Elgar, Ballade was a breakthrough work for its young composer. Zhang also leads the Orchestra in the first SF Symphony performances of Michael Abels’ Emerge, which tells the story of musicians returning to their art and rediscovering the joy of making music together. 

CALENDAR EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:

Tickets
Tickets for concerts at Davies Symphony can be purchased via sfsymphony.org or by calling the San Francisco Symphony Box Office at 415-864-6000.

Location
Davies Symphony Hall is located at 201 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco.

Health & Safety Information
Davies Symphony Hall is currently operating at full audience capacity. Based on the advice of the San Francisco Symphony’s Health and Safety Task Force, a face covering and vaccination against COVID-19 are strongly recommended but no longer required for entry into Davies Symphony Hall. These policies are subject to change. Visit sfsymphony.org/safety for the San Francisco Symphony’s complete up-to-date health and safety protocols.  

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