Carlos Simon’s Fate Now Conquers sets the mood for an evening of bold, brilliant performances. Inspired by Beethoven’s journals, it is a gripping and rhythmically charged response to the great composer’s defiance of destiny. Simon’s work crackles with urgency channeling Beethoven’s spirit in a voice that’s modern, bold, and uncompromising.

Celebrated pianist Michelle Cann then takes center stage at the Wichita Symphony Steinway with the tour de force that is Beethoven’s Fifth Piano Concerto – “The Emperor.” A masterpiece of balance between the soloist and orchestra, it embodies Beethoven’s unwavering belief in the human spirit and solidifies his defiance of adversity, as heard in the opening work.

The evening concludes with sweeping drama and lyrical beauty in Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. This symphony captures the full spectrum of human emotion through its lush orchestration, surging melodies, and vulnerable voice.