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Tickets and additional details can be found at
ArtisNaples.org

Alexander Shelley conducts the Naples
Philharmonic.
Photo by Darron R. Silva Photography.

these diverse settings, Beethoven emerges by turns Pastoral and the rhythmic drive and invention that
as witty, defiant, restless, vulnerable and deeply propel the later works.
humane. Heard in sequence, the nine works reveal a
“We wanted to find ways to show the growth composer continually searching, experimenting
and development of Beethoven as an artist and expanding before arriving at the Ninth and its
throughout his life and how this evolution affirmation of joy and human fellowship. “Through
impacted his music,” says David Filner, Artis— performances of all nine symphonies across two
Naples executive vice president, artistic operations. exceptional weeks, the Naples Philharmonic
“These insights allow audiences to have a deeper follows the arc of a composer who transformed
understanding even of familiar works in the context the symphonic form into something philosophical,
of Beethoven’s life and career.” something political and, ultimately, something
All of these paths converge in March. During universal,” Shelley explains. “To hear the nine
the Beethoven festival, March 2-20, Shelley and symphonies in sequence is to hear an idea develop
the Naples Philharmonic undertake all nine into conviction—the belief that music can change
symphonies in order, presenting listeners with a how we feel and how we understand ourselves
rare opportunity to experience Beethoven’s artistic and one another.” Here, the cycle becomes the
metamorphosis almost in real time: the Classical culmination of a much longer encounter, one that
poise of the First, the widening scale of the has spent a season immersed in Beethoven’s life
Second, the revolutionary reach of the Eroica, the and music across the concert hall, the gallery and
concentrated force of the Fifth, the openness of the beyond.

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