Beethoven’s Fifth and Magnificent Mendelssohn:

A Night of Musical Brilliance with The Phoenix Symphony

Get ready for an extraordinary evening of music that will touch your heart and lift your spirits. Tune in to Classical 89.5 KBACH, KNAU Arizona Public Radio, and DTV 8.5, Classical Arizona PBS on Monday night at 7 pm for a beautiful program featuring The Phoenix Symphony, showcasing timeless works by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and a powerful new piece by composer Carlos Simon. With guest violinist Alena Baeva and guest conductor Vinay Parameswaran adding her magic to the performance, this promises to be an unforgettable celebration of classical music.

Carlos Simon’s Breathe

The program opens with Breathe, a deeply reflective work by contemporary composer Carlos Simon. Written in 2021, this piece was inspired by theologian Howard Thurman’s Meditations of the Heart, particularly the passage “Still Dews of Quietness,” which encourages us to pause, reflect, and simply breathe. Simon, who grew up immersed in the rich musical traditions of the African-American church, has a unique gift for weaving together different musical worlds.

Breathe was commissioned by the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music for the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, and it stands as a gentle yet powerful reminder of the need for inner peace in our busy world. As Simon puts it, the piece is a call to “reflect and breathe,” offering a space for listeners to pause and find stillness. It’s a soothing and thoughtful addition to the evening’s program, inviting listeners to experience music as a bridge to deeper contemplation.

Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64

Following Breathe, we’re treated to one of the most beloved pieces in the violin repertoire: Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor. Written for his lifelong friend, violinist Ferdinand David, this concerto overflows with warmth and emotional depth. From its tender opening to its exhilarating finale, the work feels like a conversation between soloist and orchestra—full of joy, passion, and intimacy.

What makes this piece especially unique is how Mendelssohn defied expectations by letting the violin jump right in with the first theme, skipping the usual orchestral introduction. Throughout the concerto, the transitions between movements are seamless. One particularly lovely moment comes when a bassoon holds a single note to carry us from the first movement into the second, where the violin sings a lyrical aria that feels as though it’s telling a deeply personal story.

Alena Baeva, an extraordinary violinist known for her breathtaking technique and emotional range, brings Mendelssohn’s masterpiece to life in this performance. Her ability to balance elegance and energy will make the concerto’s joyful finale even more dazzling, leaving you with a smile as the piece concludes on a radiant note.

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67

The evening rounds out with one of the most iconic works in the classical music canon: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. Those first four notes—three quick Gs followed by a long E-flat—are instantly recognizable, and they carry the weight of a much larger journey. Composed during a time when Beethoven was struggling with his growing deafness, this symphony is often seen as a reflection of the composer’s battle with fate itself.

What makes Beethoven’s Fifth so remarkable isn’t just its famous opening, but the way he masterfully weaves that simple four-note motif throughout the entire symphony. From the dramatic first movement to the sweeping second movement, and into the vibrant scherzo and triumphant finale, Beethoven guides us from darkness into light. By the time we reach the final movement, the music has transformed, radiating with optimism and joy. The addition of piccolo and trombones in the finale gives the music an extra burst of energy, as if to declare that hope has triumphed over adversity.

This symphony has resonated with audiences for over two centuries, and it’s easy to see why. Beethoven’s Fifth speaks to something universal—the strength to face challenges, the courage to persevere, and the belief that light will ultimately overcome darkness.

A Special Evening with The Phoenix Symphony

Monday night’s broadcast is a perfect blend of old and new, offering a fresh perspective with Carlos Simon’s thoughtful Breathe, followed by the timeless beauty of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto and Beethoven’s triumphant Fifth Symphony. Each work on this program tells its own story, but together, they create an evening of music that feels both powerful and deeply personal.

Whether you’re tuning in to hear the graceful artistry of Alena Baeva in the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, the brilliance of guest conductor Vinay Parameswaran, or to experience Beethoven’s exhilarating symphony, this program is sure to inspire. Settle in for an evening of musical brilliance on Classical Arizona PBS at 7 pm—you won’t want to miss it!

About the artist…

Described as ​“a magnetic presence” and ​“a constantly fascinating sound technician” (New York Classical Review), violinist Alena Baeva is considered one of the most exciting, versatile, and captivating soloists active on the world stage today, working with leading conductors including Gustavo Gimeno, Paavo Järvi, Marek Janowski, Vladimir Jurowski, Tomáš Netopil and Riccardo Minasi.

Possessing a passionate musical curiosity, Baeva holds an already vast and rapidly expanding active repertoire, including over fifty violin concerti. She is a champion of lesser-known works alongside the more mainstream violin literature, with recent performances promoting such composers as Bacewicz, Karaev, Karłowicz, and Silvestrov.

Baeva’s career as an international soloist of the highest renown has grown at an extraordinary pace over recent seasons, performing with orchestras including New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Gürzenich-Orchester Köln and Göteborgs Symfoniker. She enjoys a long-standing and rewarding relationship with the Orchestra of the XVIII Century, performing and recording a variety of repertoire on period instruments.

Chamber music holds a particularly special place in her musical life, where she enjoys collaborations with such esteemed artists as Yuri Bashmet, Daishin Kashimoto, Misha Maisky, Jean-Guihen Queyras, and the Belcea Quartet. Her regular sonata partner is the celebrated Ukrainian pianist Vadym Kholodenko, with whom she has had a dedicated musical partnership for more than a decade.

Baeva records exclusively for leading label Alpha Classics, and the first project of her multi-disc deal with the label Fantasy with Vaydm Kholodenko was released in February 2024.  Baeva’s wider discography is extensive and reflects the impressive breadth of her repertoire. Recordings include Wieniawski Violin Concerto No.2 (with Orchestra of the XVIII Century, 2021); the Karłowicz Violin Concerto (with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, 2018); and the Schumann Violin Concerto and original (1844) version of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto (for Melodiya Records, 2020).

Born in Kyrgyzstan with Slavic-Tatar ancestry, Baeva took her first violin lessons at the age of five under renowned pedagogue Olga Danilova in Kazakhstan before studying with Professor Eduard Grach in Russia. She also took lessons with Mstislav Rostropovich, Boris Garlitsky, and Shlomo Mintz, and took part in the Seiji Ozawa International Academy Switzerland, focused on string quartet repertoire. Naturalised Luxembourgish, Alena Baeva has resided in Luxembourg since 2010.

Alena Baeva plays on the ​“ex-William Kroll” Guarneri del Gesù of 1738 – on a generous loan from an anonymous patron, with the kind assistance of J&A Beares.