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SUMMARY:Beethoven & Blue Jeans
DESCRIPTION:We’re thrilled to be one of the first American orchestras to present the spectacular young accordionist Radu Ratoi. Born in Romania\, he’s already earned major acclaim across Europe. He’s doing for the accordion what Piazzolla did for the bandoneon in Argentina—elevating it as a serious orchestral voice. Radu performs Piazzolla’s Aconcagua Concerto\, and we pair it with one of Beethoven’s most joyous symphonies. The concert opens with Kodály’s Dances of Galánta—a dazzling\, toe-tapping tribute to Hungarian Romani folk music. \n\nScott Speck\, conductorRadu Ratoi\, accordion \nSaturday\, March 14\, 2026 at 7:30 pmSunday\, March 15\, 2026 at 2:30 pmSaenger Theatre \nThis concert\, including intermission\, is approximately 1 hour\, 35 minutes.\nPlease review the venue’s security policies including the use of clear bags/purses only by clicking here.\n  \n \nPROGRAM\nZoltán Kodály: Dances of Galanta(1882-1967) \nAstor Piazzolla: Aconcagua: Concerto for Bandoneon(1921-1992) \nINTERMISSION \nLudwig von Beethoven: Symphony No. 2\, D major\, Op. 36(1770-1827) \n  \n \nOur Soloist\n\nRadu Ratoi\n  \nPraised for his originality\, versatility\, virtuosity in the Classical and contemporary repertoire\, Radu is the winner of some of the most important accordion competitions. In 2024\, he won the YCA “Susan Wadsworth” International auditions in New York\, USA\, one of the most important auditions worldwide for young instrumentalists. \nAs a paramount gratification for his professional activity\, he won the Leonnie Sonning Music Prize -Talent Prize\, one of the most prestigious awards in Denmark. As well\, he holds one of the most important Art Award in the Republic of Moldova “Master in Arts”\, offered by the president of the country\, Maia Sandu\, for outstanding achievements. Since 2024\, Radu was appointed as a soloist with The National Chamber Orchestra of Moldova. Playing solo and chamber\, having collaborations with various artists and orchestras\, Radu is giving unbelievable concerts worldwide\, attracting the public with his musicality\, technique and charisma. \nRadu Ratoi (born in 1998) started accordion at the age of 6\, feeling inspired since his first lesson. Radu describes the accordion as “an instrument with almost unlimited possibilities”. That we can also see on stage – people who know already Radu’s style\, are always amazed by his way of playing and feeling the accordion. His main goal is to prove the world that the accordion is underestimated and has unthinkable possibilities in all the musical genres. With his transcriptions of J.S. Bach\, D. Scarlatti\, J.P. Rameau\, F. Liszt and many more\, he reinvented and improved the accordion repertoire. \nRadu’s stage career started already at 7 years old\, being on stage for concerts and contests. He attended “Alexei Starcea” School of Arts in his hometown\, Chisinau\, in the Republic of Moldova. Afterwards he continued his undergraduate studies at the Centre of Excellence in Artistic Education “Stefan Neaga”\, in the same city. Being still in Moldova\, he started to participate in international well-known competitions. \nAt 18 years old\, he won most of them with the Junior categories\, such as Coupe Mondiale\, Trophy Mondiale\, Castelfidardo\, etc. He won these competitions both in Classical Music categories\, and in Virtuoso/Entertainment Music categories\, being the first who achieved both these titles. In 2018 he got the “Excellence Diploma” from the President of the Republic of Moldova. Next step on his path was “The Royal Danish Academy of Music” in Copenhagen\, Denmark. Between 2018 and 2020\, he won the 6 most important competition in the world – Coupe Mondiale\, Klinghenthal Accordion Competition\, Trophy Mondiale\, Arrasate Accordion Competition\, PIF Castelfidardo\, and Moscow Accordion Competition. This was a worldwide performance\, being the first and only  who won all these awards in Classical and Entertainment Music. In total\, he’s won more than 60 national and international awards. \nRadu recorded his accordion CD “Greatest Organ Works arranged for Accordion” in 2022\, with pieces by J.S.Bach and F.Liszt. In 2023\, Radu arranged and recorded “12 Transcendental Etudes’’by F. Liszt. In his stellar career as a soloist\, he performed in some of the most important concert halls in the world: Berlin Philharmonic\, Radio Concert House Copenhagen\, Victoria Concert Hall\, Tivoli Hall Copenhagen\, Aram Khachaturian’s Concert Hall in Yerevan\, Harbin Concert Hall and many others. \nRadu is playing a Pigini Nova – RR – specially built and modified for him.He is represented worldwide by Young Concert Artists\, Inc.Find out more about Radu at raduratoi.com \n  \nTakeNote! Learn More\, Enjoy More\nEnhance your concert experience with Take-Note! Join music experts and explore the world of classical music from an in-depth perspective. This informative pre-concert talk begins at 6:30 p.m. before Saturday classical performances and 1:30 p.m. before Sunday classical performances in Room 1927 adjacent to the Saenger entrance on Joachim Street. \n \nBring the kids for FREE on Sunday!\nThrough MSO’s Big Red Ticket program\, sponsored by Alabama Power Foundation and the Figures Foundation\, students in grades K-12 can attend any classical Sunday matinee FREE when accompanied by a paying adult. It’s a great cultural opportunity and an amazing concert experience! Seats are limited\, so please purchase tickets by phone at (251)432-2010. Please no children under 5 and no babies in arms. Want to bring a student on a Saturday? Student tickets are just $10. \n  \n\n\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				SPECK SPEAKS\nMusic Director Scott Speck discusses the concert\n \n“If you only know Beethoven as the stormy genius shaking his fist at fate\, his Second Symphony might catch you off guard. It’s cheerful\, unpredictable\, and occasionally ridiculous—in the best way. Written during one of the darkest times of his life\, it somehow ends up sounding like a celebration. The last movement\, in particular\, is so full of musical jokes and mischief that early listeners must have assumed he was making fun of them. One bewildered critic described the entire symphony as “a hideously writhing\, wounded dragon that refuses to die”—an insult for sure\, but also a clear sign that Beethoven had already left his century behind. \n And one century later\, in another hemisphere\, Astor Piazzolla was busy doing for tango what Beethoven did for the symphony—dragging it into new territory. His Aconcagua Concerto\, named after Argentina’s highest peak\, takes a dance form usually associated with smoke-filled clubs\, and turns it into a glorious orchestral landscape. The music doesn’t climb Aconcagua so much as whirl around it\, weaving passion\, elegance\, and just enough danger to keep you on the edge of your seat. \nBeethoven and Piazzolla came from different worlds\, but they shared the same fearless drive to reinvent tradition. We hope that in playing them side by side for you\, we can help each composer to illuminate the other.” \n– Scott Speck 
URL:https://mobilesymphony.org/event/beethoven-blue-jeans-4
LOCATION:Saenger Theatre\, 6 South Joachim Street\, Mobile\, AL\, 36602\, United States
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