Fall Arts Celebration to celebrate early works of Beethoven

The beginning of the 19th century in Europe was marked by conflict and political transformation created by revolutions in America and France. During this time, a young musician by the name of Ludwig van Beethoven arrived in the city of Vienna to create his fame.

Beethoven almost immediately earned the reputation of a piano virtuoso, even as he suffered from the early signs of deafness, but his lasting legacy and source of greatest fame would be as a composer.

During the Fall Arts Celebration music event, the renowned Ying Quartet will perform two of Beethoven's most enduring chamber music works from his early years in Vienna. 

"Emerging Romanticism: The Ying Quartet Performs The Early Viennese Chamber Music of Beethoven" will take place Monday, September 12, at 7:30 p.m., in the Cook-DeWitt Center. The performance will be preceded by carillon concert from 7-7:20 p.m.

Now in its second decade, the Ying Quartet's performances regularly take place in many of the world's greatest venues, including Carnegie Hall, the White House and Sydney Opera House.

The program will open with the Ying Quartet performing "String Quartet Opus 18 No. 6." To perform "Septet in E-flat major, Opus 20," the quartet will be joined by Grand Valley music faculty, including Arthur Campbell, clarinet; Danny Phipps, bassoon; Richard Britsch, horn; and Michael Hovnanian, double bass.

"The works selected for this program are foundational works of the classical string chamber repertoire," said Phipps, Music and Dance Department chair. "This event will be a unique and wonderful opportunity for our students and the community to witness and immerse themselves in the mechanics of some of Beethoven's most iconic and beloved chamber works."

All Fall Arts Celebration events are open to the public with free admission. For more information, visit the Fall Arts Celebration website, or call (616) 331-2185.