Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony

Chief Conductor Marin Alsop and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra open the program with the world premiere of Rhapsody for Orchestra by acclaimed Syrian-American composer Malek Jandali. Known for his ability to blend Middle Eastern modes and Arabic maqams with Western classical structures, Jandali’s music offers a distinctive fusion of cultural traditions, creating a rich and compelling soundscape.

Violin prodigy Himari then takes center stage in a pair of Spanish-dance violin showpieces. Kreisler’s La Gitana is a lively and evocative showpiece that transports listeners to Spain with its rhythmic energy and virtuosic violin flourishes. Waxman’s Carmen Fantasy is a dazzling and technically demanding work that weaves together the most passionate and dramatic themes from Bizet’s beloved opera.

The evening reaches its thrilling conclusion with the 2025 One Score^® feature, Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony. Bursting with rhythmic drive and exuberant energy, this symphony is renowned for its infectious vitality and dance-like momentum. Its second movement has been widely used in film and TV, and the work as a whole represents Beethoven at his most uninhibited and innovative, despite his growing struggles with deafness and declining health.