Seattle, WA USA – Seattle Symphony – Mackey, Beethoven

PERFORMERS
Alicia Olatuja, mezzo-soprano
Steven Mackey, electric guitar
Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano
Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzo-soprano
Baek SeokJong, tenor
Robert Pomakov, bass
Seattle Symphony & Chorale
Xian Zhang, conductor

PROGRAMME
Steven Mackey: RIOT
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, “Choral”

VENUE NOTE
Our 2025/2026 season culminates with the ultimate symphony — Beethoven’s Ninth, featuring an all-star cast of soloists chosen by Music Director Xian Zhang and joined by the massed forces of the Seattle Symphony Chorale. Revolutionary, epic and at 200 years old, still as driven as Beethoven’s own sense of our shared destiny, he crowned this summit of his music with the stunning addition of voices in a song for humanity, hope and joy. Xian pairs it with Artist in Focus Steven Mackey’s RIOT, for chorus, vocalist and the composer himself on electric guitar. This inspiring music places race and resilience in the foreground with a setting of words by Tracy K. Smith — culminating in positive affirmation and a celebration of perseverance, commitment and community.