This is a big year for Beethoven fans.
Orchestras around the world have concerts planned to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of the revolutionary composer.
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra has an all-Beethoven concert on Saturday night January 11th.
To promote it, Mayor Domenic Sarno issued a proclamation this week and cut a birthday cake.
Saturday’s program features former SSO music director Mark Russell Smith guest conducting the orchestra in performing Beethoven’s first and second symphonies and the Egmont Overture.
"It is a great kick off with two pieces of Beethoven that are not heard that much," said Lynn Nichols, Marketing Director for the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. " The Egmont Overture is one of the most memorable pieces in the orchestral repretoire. It is very bombastic."
Beethoven wrote his first symphony early in his life while the second was written in 1802 as his hearing was starting to deteriorate.
"It is surprisingly upbeat considering that he had just gotten the news he was losing his hearing," said Nichols.
There will be more Beethoven-themed concerts by the SSO throughout this year.
"In the fall of 2020 we will continue to focus on Beethoven," said Nichols.
