The program began promisingly with a rewarding account of the less commonly played Second Symphony in which a grave introduction preceded a spirited Allegro con brio. The lovely Mozartian Larghetto was followed by a frolicsome Scherzo, concluding with an eccentric but gripping finale. 

 

The symphonies were separated by a short, recent commission by the ensemble, Climb by Jessica Hunt, which was written in dialogue with Beethoven, but which didn’t leave a very strong impression on a first hearing. The composer was in the audience, however, to receive the audience’s acclaim. Especially impressive, though, was a superb reading of the magnificent ‘Eroica’ Symphony which opened with a dramatic Allegro con brio. The extraordinarily powerful funeral march movement that ensued proved to be the highlight of the entire evening but the excitement continued with a rousingScherzoand an enthralling finale. 

 

The last concert in the series—on Tuesday, January 11th, 2022— features the Haydnesque First Symphony as well as the titanic Ninth.