The Erie Chamber Orchestra is at it again.
Following the large success of their previous performance, “Soldier’s Tale,” the orchestra takes a few steps back in history for its next work.
It will be performing Beethoven’s Third Symphony for its next piece, entitled “Enter Eroica.”
The show will be performed on 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Cathedral Prep Auditorium on West 10th Street.
In keeping with their years-long tradition, admission to the event will be free, but donations will be accepted.
“Enter Eroica” was the symphony famously dedicated to Napoleon before the leader’s conquest of Europe.
Here’s the catch: it’s almost a behind-the-scenes of the piece, as Maestro Matthew Kramer will conduct a small presentation of certain aspects of the piece prior to the playing of said section.
In this way, the process that goes into performing one of these pieces is revealed to the audience, and hopefully brings a bit of light to the rehearsal process of an orchestra.
“I feel like this show will help the audience have a new perspective on Beethoven’s genius,” ECO general manager Steve Weiser said.
“It was rather like detective work, scouring the Internet for photos to use that helped complement the story that our music director has crafted.”
In addition to the actual process of performing the piece, a bit of the history behind the piece will be revealed.
From its composition to its first performance, all will be covered in a PowerPoint presentation on the stage of Cathedral Prep’s auditorium, where the show will take place.
“Developing the slide show definitely gave me a new perspective on the piece,” Weiser said. “I’ve studied and performed it numerous times on timpani, but it was eye-opening to learn just how connected this work was to so many other compositions in Beethoven repertoire.”
Zach Hyman, a freshman theatre and communication arts major plays for the percussion section of the Gannon University Concert Band. He said he thinks the ECO has some really talented people in it.
“They blend well, and I think I’ve heard them play Beethoven before,” Hyman said.
TOM BARTON
