Berkeley Symphony to perform Beethoven Ninth with reimagined text, plus world premiere of Lopéz Bellido’s “Rise”

The Berkeley Symphony will perform its final concert of the season on June 12, a program entitled “Rejoice” that will feature Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with a reimagined libretto by former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith. Music Director Joseph Young will lead the concert at Zellerbach Hall at the University of California Berkeley, which will also feature the commissioned world premiere of Berkeley-based composer Jimmy Lopéz Bellido’s Rise, written in honor of the orchestra’s 50th-anniversary season. “As the final performance of our historic season, Rejoice is a reflection of how we work to create a sense of belonging through music, while honoring Berkeley Symphony’s legacy of innovation and inclusion,” said Young in announcing the concert. “By presenting the classical favorite of Beethoven’s Ninth with a modern twist and by highlighting the exciting work of a celebrated composer of our generation, we hope that Rejoice will set the stage for the next 50 years of sharing music that resonates with our communities.”