Hear Beethoven’s Monumental “Emperor” Concerto Live in Libertyville This November

By Symphony847 Staff

On Friday, November 14, Symphony847 will open its 2025–2026 concert season in Libertyville with a program that pairs rhythmic modern brilliance with some of Beethoven’s most expressive and enduring music. The centerpiece of the evening is Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, widely known as the “Emperor” Concerto — a work treasured by music lovers for its grandeur, lyricism, and humanity.

The concerto will be performed by Chicago-based pianist, composer, and new music curator Amy Wurtz, whose artistic voice blends clarity, warmth, and a deep respect for musical storytelling. Wurtz is recognized throughout the Midwest for performances that feel both intellectually grounded and emotionally direct, and for her commitment to championing underrepresented composers and collaborative musical community.

The ‘Emperor’ Concerto asks the pianist to do more than dazzle. It asks the performer to speak — to sing — to hold space for both majesty and vulnerability. Amy brings exactly that balance.

A Landmark of the Piano Repertoire

Beethoven composed the Emperor in 1809 under the shadow of war — Vienna was under bombardment as he wrote it. The opening sets the tone immediately: instead of waiting patiently for the orchestra to introduce the concerto, the soloist explodes into the sound world from the very first measure. This was revolutionary.

The result is a musical dialogue of heroism, intimacy, and wonder, a concerto that pushes the piano-concerto form to symphonic scale while still containing some of the most tender and luminous writing Beethoven ever created.

The Full Program

The concert opens with Michael Torke’s Ash (1989), a piece driven by rhythmic energy and bright harmonic color — a modern work that feels immediate, joyful, and deeply physical in its pulse.
Following that is Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4, often described as one of the happiest and most elegant works in the symphonic repertoire — a piece filled with surprise, clarity, and sparkling orchestral interplay.

Event Details

Friday, November 14 • 7:30 PM
Libertyville High School Auditorium
708 W Park Ave, Libertyville, IL

Tickets:General admission $20 | Students $10 | Children 17 & under FREE
More info and ticket link: https://symphony847.org/concerts

For those seeking a full night out, Symphony847 is also offering a Date Night Experience which includes a pre-concert happy hour with appetizers and dessert, a pre-concert talk with the conductor, and a meet-the-musicians mingle. Details available at the ticket link above.

A Concert Close to Home — And Close to the Heart

One of the goals of Symphony847 is to bring world-class, artist-driven orchestral music into local spaces — creating concerts that are welcoming, energizing, and connected to community life.

This performance offers not just the chance to hear a masterwork — but the chance to hear what happens when a musician of Amy Wurtz’s thoughtfulness and presence meets one of the great works of the piano repertoire.