The musicians of the Honolulu Symphony announced today that they will present Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony this month at the Blaisdell Concert Hall, as previously scheduled.
Citing mounting debts and lackluster revenues, symphony officials last month announced plans to cancel all scheduled performances through this month and made no guarantees that the rest of the 2009-10 season would go on.
The free matinee concert, set for 4 p.m. Dec. 27, will feature members of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra and the Oahu Choral Society, led by Maestra JoAnn Falletta.
Donations, which will benefit the Honolulu Symphony Musicians’ Fund, will be accepted by Live Music Awareness. For more information visit www.livemusicawareness.com.
The concert is being produced by the musicians of the symphony and all performers are donating their services for this event. Tickets will be available through the Blaisdell Box Office starting tomorrow.
“The musicians ... want to present this concert as a thank-you to the community who has supported us for so many years,” said Steve Dinion, a symphony musician representative in a news release issued today.
In addition, he said, “We will be performing for Ballet Hawaii’s Nutcracker and for the Hawaii Opera Theater’s upcoming season and will continue to seek out opportunities to give back to the people of Hawaii. The Honolulu Symphony is a vital piece of the cultural fabric of this city and we will endeavor to continue its legacy.”
Maestra Falletta, who is donating her services for the event, said in the release: “Hawaii is very fortunate to have one of our country's great orchestras right here, and the HSO musicians have always been completely dedicated to providing the highest quality music to their community.”
Founded in 1900, the Honolulu Symphony is one of the largest performing arts organizations in Hawaii and bills itself as the oldest American orchestra west of the Rockies.
Falletta added, “I hope that our audience will come to support their orchestra in this special concert of the greatest symphony ever written — Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.”
Completed in 1824, the Ninth Symphony was Beethoven’s last composition and arguably, it is his greatest musical legacy. The thrilling “Ode to Joy” choral finale is the culmination of this masterpiece that speaks of universal humanity and freedom, and shares a message of hope and elation. Around the world every New Year, people celebrate new beginnings with the Ninth Symphony.