Grieg and Beethoven: UMD University Orchestra
Grieg and Beethoven: UMD University Orchestra
About the Event
Open the UMD University Orchestra’s 2025–26 season with two of the most iconic pieces of classical music from Edvard Grieg and Ludwig van Beethoven.
Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite is based on Henrik Ibsen’s play of the same name, with each movement of the piece representing a different scene in the story. From the tranquility and awakening of the famous first movement's “Morning Mood” to the tempestuous encounter with the troll king “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” Grieg perfectly captures the essence of the landscapes and folk traditions of his native Norway.
Beethoven’s fateful fifth symphony opens with possibly the four most famous notes in all of music. The symbolism of this piece has been widely discussed, beginning with the assertion that the four-note motif is, “Fate knocking at the door,” and that the body of the work was a manifestation of Beethoven’s personal struggles. Regardless of its meaning, Beethoven’s fifth is an undeniably powerful piece of music that will continue to inspire pop culture for generations to come.
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Program
Edvard Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite
Ludwig Van Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor
