Celestial Visions features two luminous masterpieces of the Romantic tradition in a program centered on wonder, humanity, and transcendence. Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 breathes fresh light on the concerto form by transforming it into an intimate and deeply poetic dialogue between soloist and orchestra. Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 reimagines the symphony itself, unfolding as a journey from earthly life toward a child’s vision of heaven. Blending pastoral beauty, humor, and innocence with experiences of the sublime, the work culminates in a radiant finale for soprano and orchestra, dissolving the traditional boundary between symphony and song.

Steven Smith returns to celebrate the 45th anniversary of his first performance with NVS, revisiting the concerto that marked his debut with the orchestra in honor of the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death in 2027.

Program

• Piano Concerto No. 4 — Ludwig van Beethoven (Steven Herbert Smith, piano soloist)

Intermission

• Symphony No. 4 — Gustav Mahler (Rachel Copeland, soprano soloist)