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Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Beethoven 5 & Mao Fujita
Nov 5-8, 2026
Overview
Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, with its iconic four-note motif, stands as a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Strauss’ Burlesque — written when the composer was just 21 — makes the perfect pairing, dazzling with pianistic fireworks and mischievous energy. The piece has become a calling card for rising pianist Mao Fujita, who performs it “with the maturity of someone twice his age” (Bachtrack).
Program
Wagner
Prelude to Parsifal
R. Strauss
Burlesque
Beethoven
Symphony No. 5
Performers
Enhance your experience
Preconcert Conversation
Explore the music in a free preconcert conversation featuring Johann Buis in Orchestra Hall 75 minutes before the performance. The talk will last approximately 30 minutes. No additional tickets are needed.
Preconcert Dining
Explore Chicago Symphony Center’s on-site dining options for a seamless preconcert experience. Preorder a Sound Bites meal to enjoy in the Rotunda before the concert — or make a reservation to dine at the Thomas Club, offering a prix fixe menu featuring traditional American fare and a spectacular view of Lake Michigan.
Inside the Music
Beethoven: The Eternal Original
The Allies used the first four notes of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony (“da-da-da-dum”) as an acoustic code because the work's rhythmic pattern corresponds to the letter “V” (dot-dot-dot-dash) in Morse Code,
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About the music
To mark the bicentennial of the death of Ludwig van Beethoven, the CSO and Symphony Center Presents have programmed "Beethoven: The Eternal Original," a season-long celebration of the composer and humanitarian.
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About the music
According to founder and first music director Theodore Thomas, Beethoven's second creative period — in which he composed the Fifth Symphony — produced "works which are as nearly perfect as anything human can be."
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