From the Depths to the Heights

Rafael Payare, conductor
Alisa Weilerstein, cello
San Diego Symphony Orchestra

BEETHOVEN: Leonore Overture No. 3, Op. 72b
GABRIELA ORTIZ: Dzonot
PROKOFIEV: Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major, Op. 100

Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3 captures the drama and triumph of his only opera, culminating in one of his most thrilling finales—a powerful hymn to freedom and justice.

Renowned Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz’s new cello concerto Dzonot, written for Alisa Weilerstein, draws inspiration from Mexico’s mystical cenotes—underground worlds rich with life and mystery. Her music blends Latin American folk influences with a deep awareness of our planet’s fragility.

The program concludes with Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5, written during World War II as a tribute to “the greatness of the human spirit.” Its classical poise, radiant optimism, and structural mastery reveal the enduring influence of Beethoven—the same spirit of triumph and humanity that links all three works on this program.

Please note: This concert repertoire has changed from previously published materials.