Beethoven's Symphony No. 1 introduces a bold new musical voice, full of wit and unexpected turns from its very first chord. In "Kinks and Quirks", violinist and conductor Shunske Sato traces the roots of that originality to the symphonies of C.P.E. Bach, whose daring, unpredictable musical twists shaped a generation of composers-from Mozart to Beethoven to a teenage Mendelssohn.
You'll hear Beethoven's First much as the earliest audiences did. Performed on gut strings, valveless trumpets and horns, and wooden flutes, period instruments reveal the clarity, color, and vivid orchestral sound that electrified Beethoven's first audiences.
Join us for an exhilarating season finale to Philharmonia's 2025/26 season!
Concert Highlights
Beethoven's Symphony No.1 launched his remarkable symphonic career, setting the stage for the works that would change music forever.
C.P.E. Bach's Symphony in F major delivers sudden shifts and quirky surprises-"kinks and quirks"-that fascinated both audiences and later composers.
Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in D minor, composed when he was only 13, brims with youthful brilliance and intensity, while Mozart's rarely heard Thamos, King of Egypt lends theatrical flair to the program.
Audience favorite violinist Shunske Sato, "a musical force to be reckoned with" (South Florida Classical Review), leads these thrilling season finale performances.
Program
C.P.E. BACH - Symphony No. 3 in F major
MOZART - Incidental Music from Thamos, King of Egypt
MENDELSSOHN - Concerto for Violin and Strings in D minor
BEETHOVEN - Symphony No. 1 in C major
Concert Dates
Thursday, April 23, 2026 - 7:30 PM | San Francisco: Herbst Theatre
Friday, April 24, 2026 - 7:30 PM | Palo Alto: First United Methodist Church
Saturday, April 25, 2026 - 2:30 PM | Berkeley: First Congregational Church
Tickets $40 to $125, and $20 tickets available for Under 30s. Details and tickets at philharmonia.org or call the Box Office at (415) 295 1900.
$20 - 125.