As Beethoven’s crowning symphonic achievement, the Ninth Symphony looms large with its orchestral might, celestial beauty and spiritual grandeur. Through the introduction of voices into what was previously considered a purely instrumental art-form, Beethoven envisioned a glorious finale by setting Schiller’s Ode to Joy with a quartet of operatic soloists and a full chorus. Embracing themes of brotherhood and celebrating a benevolent Deity, Beethoven’s Ninth is also a paean to the glories of creation. It is in this spirit that we pair his grand work with a colorful and evocative work inspired by the Arctic Ocean by Maria Huld Sigfúsdóttir. With a deft touch and keen ear for sweeping soundscapes, Sigfúsdóttir’s music captivates with its shimmering effects and churning musical waves.

• Sigfúsdóttir Oceans

• Beethoven Symphony No. 9

  • Amy Shoremount-Obra, soprano

  • Joan Peitscher, alto

  • Wesley Lawrence, tenor

  • Mark Steven Doss, baritone

  • Erie Philharmonic Chorus

    • Tom Brooks, director