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Beethoven's Fifth

Photo by Eric E Castro, CC via Flickr

Even if you're not an aficionado of classical music, it's very likely you would recognize the first four notes of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5. You know - it's the one that goes "DUH DUH DUH DUUUH." The Utah Symphony opens its 75th season tonight with the iconic work under the direction of Maestro Thierry Fischer. We're using it as an opportunity to talk to music scholar Thomas Forrest Kelly about the night in 1808 when Beethoven's Fifth was first performed and about why it has endured for more than 200 years. (Rebroadcast)

The Utah Symphony kicks off it's 75th anniversary season with a two-week, four-concert Beethoven Festival.

  • Friday, September 11. Symphonies 4 and 5
  • Saturday, September 12, Symphonies 8 and 6 "Pastoral"
  • Friday, September 18, Symphonies 1 and 3
  • Saturday, September 19, Symphonies 2 and 7
  • Each evening features a pre-concert lecture
  • For tickets and information on these and other events, visit utahsymphony.org

Thomas Forrest Kelly is the Morton B. Knafel Professor of Music at Harvard University. Among his books is First Nights: Five Musical Premieres. [Indiebound|Amazon]

Music from today's broadcast, Beethoven : Symphonies Nos 1 - 9,NikolausHarnoncourt & Chamber Orchestra of Europe

Doug Fabrizio has been reporting for KUER News since 1987, and became News Director in 1993. In 2001, he became host and executive producer of KUER's RadioWest, a one hour conversation/call-in show on KUER 90.1 in Salt Lake City. He has gained a reputation for his thoughtful style. He has interviewed everyone from Isabel Allende to the Dalai Lama, and from Madeleine Albright to Desmond Tutu. His interview skills landed him a spot as a guest host of the national NPR program, "Talk of the Nation." He has won numerous awards for his reporting and for his work with RadioWest and KUED's Utah NOW from such organizations as the Society of Professional Journalists, the Utah Broadcasters Association, the Public Radio News Directors Association and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
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