Reimagining Beethoven

Experience Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy like never before - up close and personal through the power of digital streaming. This immerse and emotionally-charged performance serves as a testament to the power of collaboration. During the pandemic, as many orchestras shut or scaled down, we expanded - enveloping over 200 performers from around the world in a project that challenges the traditional live-stream experience. Schiller’s poem extolling the brotherhood of man is electrified by our world’s circumstances, conveying both the work’s timelessness and timeliness.

This performance features a significant line-up of remarkable artists including: Beethoven specialist Peter Takács, piano; six distinguished young singers - Caitlin Aloia, soprano, Julia Dawson, soprano, Rebecca Printz, mezzo soprano, Carlos Santelli, tenor, Daniel McGrew, tenor, Elliott Hines, baritone; and the acclaimed Verona Quartet. The Oberlin Arts and Sciences Orchestra, under the direction of Tiffany Chang, collaborated remotely with the University of Rochester Orchestras, led by Rachel Waddell, the University of Rochester Chamber Singers, conducted by Julie Covach, and a virtual choir of voices from around the global, led by Olivia Fink. Performers participated in-person and virtually.

Audio was professionally engineered by Grammy-winning audio engineer Stephen Roessner.

It is a technological feat that resulted in a compelling and revolutionary production that speaks to the power of art in these COVID times.

Credit: -
Featured artists:
Tiffany Chang, conductor, producer, video editor
Rachel Waddell, conductor
Stephen Roessner, audio engineer
Peter Takács, piano
Caitlin Aloia, soprano
Julia Dawson, soprano
Rebecca Printz, mezzo soprano
Carlos Santelli, tenor
Daniel McGrew, tenor
Elliott Hines, baritone
The Verona Quartet

Featured ensembles:
Oberlin Arts and Sciences Orchestra - ensemble
University of Rochester Orchestras - ensemble
University of Rochester Chamber Singers - ensemble; Julie Covach - conductor
a global virtual choir; Olivia Fink - chorus master


Videographers:
Vu Nguyen
Jacob Strauss
University of Rochester Photography Club: Oion Akif, Elissa Moy
WRURTV: Nicholas Cimaszewski, Samantha Torrellas, Graham Richards