MOSC opens its new season with classic Beethoven

Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5” is to music what Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” is to art. As a cornerstone of classical music, it’s safe to say it has been widely heard the same as da Vinci’s work has been seen. If not at an orchestral concert, then perhaps in rock band Electric Light Orchestra’s “Roll Over Beethoven,” Disney’s “Fantasia 2000,” the video game “Dragon’s Lair II” or even the disco version “A Fifth of Beethoven” from “the movie “Saturday Night Fever.” The Midland Odessa Symphony and Chorale opens its next season with the iconic four-note motif that begins the piece.

“Opening our 57th season with the most famous symphony in the world is an exciting beginning to a great year,” executive director Jeanette Kolokoff said in an email.

The MOSC will perform “Beethoven Five” on Saturday at the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center.

The concert will continue with Beethoven’s other works, “Coriolan Overture” and “Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor” with guest pianist Robert Plano.

Plano comes to Midland with high accolades. Among his achievements, the international musician placed first at the 2001 Cleveland International Piano Competition and was a finalist at the 2005 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.

“I have experienced Roberto Plano’s magical performance in the past and I am so looking forward to his performance on Saturday night,” Kolokoff said.