Reno Phil Presents Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto

Shakespeare once said, “The earth has music for those who listen.” Embark on a journey through the Italian countryside with Respighi’s Pines of Rome, crafting a breathtaking symphonic depiction of light, land, and the iconic scenery of Rome. Then hear the world premiere performance of The Sacrifice of Prometheus by Great Basin National Park’s Artist-in-Residence, composer Marko Bajzer, which tells the story of the planet’s oldest trees (and Nevada’s state tree!): the Great Basin Bristlecone Pines. Written for solo bass oboe, orchestra, and electronics, listeners will experience the actual sounds emitted by the trees themselves, as Bajzer used electrodes to monitor their electrical conductivity and converted the data into audible representations through new technology. A masterpiece made in misery, Beethoven likely wrote his Emperor Piano Concerto while hiding in a basement. Under attack by Napoleon, Vienna was in a state of emergency and this siege affected the composer, “both body and soul.” Performed by Davidson Fellow, Katherine Emma Liu, the piano’s regal melodies converse with the orchestra in a display of Liu’s virtuosic brilliance.