TSO returns with triumphant Beethoven show

In a Perot Theatre concert starting at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra presents "Happy Birthday, Ludwig!" with Philip Mann conducting. The evening features Kiril Laskarov, left, on violin; Tatiana Roitman-Mann, center, on piano and Brett Andrews on cello for what's called the "Triple Concerto" by Beethoven. (Photos courtesy Texarkana Symphony Orchestra)
In a Perot Theatre concert starting at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra presents "Happy Birthday, Ludwig!" with Philip Mann conducting. The evening features Kiril Laskarov, left, on violin; Tatiana Roitman-Mann, center, on piano and Brett Andrews on cello for what's called the "Triple Concerto" by Beethoven. (Photos courtesy Texarkana Symphony Orchestra)

TEXARKANA, Texas - The Texarkana Symphony Orchestra planned to celebrate Ludwig van Beethoven's 250th birthday earlier this year, but plans change and Saturday, Nov. 7, is the new date for a celebration.

In a Perot Theatre concert starting at 7:30 p.m. that night, the TSO presents "Happy Birthday, Ludwig!" with Philip Mann conducting.

The German composer's "Symphony No. 5," "Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano" and the "Overture to Egmont" are all on tap for an evening that features Kiril Laskarov on violin, Brett Andrews on cello and Tatiana Roitman-Mann on piano for what's called the "Triple Concerto" by Beethoven.

Mann is quite enthused about getting back to it with the TSO and says the musicians feel the same. They'll have measures in place meant to keep each other safe at this time of a COVID-19 pandemic.

"This is, of our course, our rescheduled happy birthday Beethoven performance that would have initially closed last season," Mann said. It's even been rescheduled twice, and the conductor believes that shows everyone how much they want to perform this show.

"Of course Beethoven is one of the all-time great composers," Mann said. "He is one of the most requested from music fans, and his music, particularly his symphonies, form one of the backbones of the symphonic repertoire."

And "Symphony No. 5" is one of the most recognizable works in all of music.

"And we thought that would be an appropriate way to celebrate his birthday, 250th, and its content, as well, I think is something that our listeners and fans yearn for right now, which is a triumphant story. It's about conflict and triumphing over adversity," Mann said, calling it a transformative work that uplifts us in an unforgettable way.

From the outset of this rousing work, this symphony is instantly recognizable.

"For me, it's a tour de force. It's a masterstroke of a musical architect that builds a spectacular cathedral just using that one brick over and over and over in different ways," Mann said. "It's always an event when you do the 'Fifth Symphony,' and so I think it's a perfect way to open our season and to celebrate Beethoven."

The concerto is called "The Triple" because it features a large piano part and two soloists on the cello and violin.

"For me, 'The Triple Concerto' is an underappreciated work. It's actually a musical gem the musicians love. It has some of the most sweet and positive and charming sounds that we like to share with each other as musicians," Mann said. It's typically performed at festive events such as this.

"It's also a place where we can celebrate the symphony family and that we're featuring three people who are all important to the symphony, especially, of course, our two principal players," Mann said.

And in the overture for Beethoven's "Egmont," the night's repertoire features one of his favorite concert overtures, similar to Beethoven's "Fifth."

"In that it encapsulates almost the entire range of human emotion and experience, just in this case it's in a compact eight minutes," Mann said. "It has conflict and weight and gravitas and turmoil at the beginning, and searching and longing, but by the end is one of the most rousing, uplifting flourishes at the end."

With an ongoing pandemic, the TSO is taking measures to keep performers safe on stage. There are also measures, including a mask requirement described below, taken for the audience.

Mann said as much as he and the musicians want to be back together, the only way to do so is to give them comfort, security and freedom from distractions.

The orchestra will be socially distanced and have their own music stands, among many measures taken. They'll use a stage extension to give them more space on stage. They'll use every square inch of the stage.

"We're really spreading out," Mann said, noting they've gathered expertise available from the community with public health professionals and physicians. They're exceeding state and local mandates, he said. Musicians will have assigned times to arrive and have their temperature checked.

"We're also going to be wearing masks on stage," Mann said, although he may remove his mask briefly while speaking. Wind and brass instrumentalists will wear masks when they're not playing. Musicians have also agreed not to engage in risky behaviors in advance of the concert.

Soloists will also do a short, free 6 p.m. Wednesday evening program at the Arkansas-side First United Methodist Church as part of the Beethoven celebration week with a lineup of Beethoven's chamber music. Reservations are required.

Prior to the Saturday concert, Mann will give a pre-concert talk about the night's repertoire at 6:40 p.m.

(Tickets: $45, $36 and $25. Masks are required for all ticketholders. Social distancing measures are enforced and seats are at least six feet apart between groups. Ticket purchase: Call the Perot Theatre Box Office at 903-792-4992. More info: TexarkanaSymphony.org.)

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