Seattle, WA USA

Beethoven: Violin Concerto
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5

Hilary Hahn, violin
Seattle Symphony
Xian Zhang, conductor

Here is Beethoven at his most optimistic and exultant, writing a piece that would come to redefine the expressive power of the concerto. And here is a superstar of the violin to perform it for us: the incomparable Hilary Hahn returns to Seattle to play Beethoven as only she can. Music Director Designate Xian Zhang returns to Seattle for this powerhouse program, which also includes Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony. Composed in 1944, it looked to a horizon beyond the devastation of war. Its first performance in Moscow was punctuated by a victory salute of cannon fire, signaling the final campaign to end the war. Prokofiev marked the end in sight with a scurrying dash to the final victory.