Greenville residents can experience the enduring power of Ludwig van Beethoven at the Peace Center Concert Hall this weekend. The Greenville Symphony Orchestra’s two‑night program, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 22 at 3 p.m., centers on Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, performed for the first time by Brazilian virtuoso Nathan Amaral.
Beethoven’s Violin Concerto leads the evening
Music director Lee Mills calls the concerto “monumental in both its scope and emotional depth,” noting its lyrical passages and spirited energy that paved the way for later Romantic violin concertos. “It really set the stage for the rest of the Romantic violin concertos that came afterwards,” Mills said.
Contemporary tribute: Carlos Simon’s “Fate Now Conquers”
The opening piece, “Fate Now Conquers,” is a new work by local composer Carlos Simon. Inspired by Beethoven’s lifelong preoccupation with destiny, Simon drew from a journal entry in which the master quoted Homer’s Iliad. Mills describes the composition as a “fateful piece,” marked by rapid arpeggios that evoke life’s tumultuous uncertainties, while also reflecting Beethoven’s struggle with hearing loss and his determination to prevail.
Schumann’s “Rhenish” Symphony closes the program
The concert concludes with Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 3, the “Rhenish.” Composed in 1850, the five‑movement work celebrates the Rhineland and mirrors Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony in its structure. Mills highlights the fourth movement, often called the “Cathedral” movement, for its solemn, soaring lines that suggest the grandeur of Cologne Cathedral.
Tickets range from $24.20 to $90.20. For more information, call 864‑467‑3000 or visit peacecenter.org.
Original reporting: Greenville Journal — read the source article.
