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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Beethoven's Ninth will go on after all


Advertiser Staff

Honolulu Symphony musicians yesterday announced they will present Beethoven's Ninth Symphony this month at the Blaisdell Concert Hall, as previously scheduled.

Citing mounting debts and lackluster revenues, symphony officials last month announced plans to cancel all scheduled performances through this month and made no guarantees that the rest of the 2009-10 season would go on.

The free matinee concert, at 4 p.m. Dec. 27, will feature members of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra and the Oahu Choral Society, led by maestra JoAnn Falletta.

Donations, which will benefit the Honolulu Symphony Musicians' Fund, will be accepted by Live Music Awareness. For more information, visit www.livemusic awareness.com.

The concert is being produced by the musicians and all performers are donating their services for the event. Tickets will be available through the Blaisdell box office starting today.

"The musicians want to present this concert as a thank you to the community who has supported us for so many years," said Steve Dinion, a symphony musician representative, in a news release.

Falletta said in the release: "Hawaii is very fortunate to have one of our country's great orchestras right here, and the HSO musicians have always been completely dedicated to providing the highest quality music to their community."

Founded in 1900, the Ho- -nolulu Symphony is one of the largest performing arts organizations in Hawai'i and bills itself as the oldest American orchestra west of the Rockies.

Completed in 1824, the Ninth Symphony — best known for its "Ode to Joy" choral finale — was Beethoven's last composition. Around the world every New Year, people celebrate new beginnings with the Ninth Symphony.