PEORIA -- The Heartland Festival Orchestra's moving, beautiful rendition of Beethoven's 3rd Symphony, the Eroica or Heroic Symphony, was dedicated to the memory of Ambassador Chris Stevens, the step brother of Heartland artistic director and conductor David Commanday.
The orchestra presented the concert on Oct. 27, at Five Points in Washington, Il.
The Beethoven symphony had been planned months in advance of Stevens' tragic death in Libya, Commanday said. Its themes make it a fitting piece to memoralize Stevens.
Commanday also played the cello in a string sextet in a memorial service for Stevens on Oct. 16 in San Franciso, an event streamed live on the web, and attended by dignitaries from around the world, according to the program.
In a brilliant introduction to the symphony, Commanday spoke of Beethoven, who first dedicated the work to Napoleon, then ripped apart the dedication page when Napoleon declared himself Emperor, thus subverting the ideals of the French Revolution, liberty, equality and the dignity of ordinary people.
Commanday linked those ideals with the work of Stevens, whose career was dedicated to peace and international understanding. Here are Commanday's complete remarks.
The music itself was wonderfully done, as usual with this unique orchestra. Its sound is rich, its timing precise, and it made the most of the famous symphony, to receive a standing ovation from the audience.
Two other works on the program, Rossini's The Silken Ladder Overture, and Michael Haydn's Concerto for Two Horns in E flat Major, were equally well done.
The horn soloists Thomas and Tricia Jostlein, The Jostlein Horn Duo, played their fascinating instruments up front, providing a close look at the horns and the techniques used to create their lovely sounds.
Both are award-winning musicians. He is with the St. Louis Symphony and the University of Illinois, and she is at Webster University in St. Louis, is Principal Horn of the Heartland Orchestra, and has been Principal Horn of the Omaha Symphony and Des Moines Metro Opera.
Then they joined the orchestra to play the Beethoven symphony.
Every concert from the Heartland Orchestra is different, and the diversity keeps the orchestra and its presentations fresh and interesting.
-- Elaine Hopkins
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