Behind Beethoven with George Li and the ISO

We are excited to welcome Fabien Gabel and George Li to the Hilbert Circle Theatre stage for a program of thrilling storytelling! Anchored within Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto, this weekend’s concerts reflect the evocative vitality of selections from Wagner and Humperdinck brought to life by Li’s virtuosic performance. We caught up with George Li to discuss the electric grandeur of this weekend’s program.  

What can audiences expect from this concert’s program?  

GEORGE LI: Fabien Gabel has put together an incredible program centered around the theme of the Emperor, as well as the tragically gorgeous excerpts from Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde. These are two classics in the standard repertoire, so hopefully you will hear fresh invigorating takes on both of them throughout both concerts! 

How might this program make them feel? 

GL: There is a lot of constantly building dramatic passion especially in the Wagner, and I think these romantic and vivid aching feelings contrast well with the sense of grandeur, brilliance and vibrance within the Beethoven and Humperdinck. 
 

What makes Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto so unique? 

GL: For me, it’s always incredible to see how Beethoven builds structures within his music. This concerto, for example, is mainly built up of scales and arpeggios – if done in the wrong way, it could come across as an exercise. However, Beethoven’s mastery of creating and breathing life and evolving these themes into something greater than the sum of its parts results in a work that has so much vitality, drama and richness.
 

Within your history and familiarity with these pieces, how has their meaning or impact changed for you over time? 

GL: With Beethoven, I always feel like every time I go into the piece and review it for another concert, I find new things and layers which I never noticed before. Beethoven is a composer that you learn more about yourself and music as time goes on, so it’s a never ending learning experience!
 

How has your experience been working with the ISO’s musicians and Fabien Gabel? 

GL :It’s been absolutely incredible! We had such a great chemistry from my debut here in 2023, and I love working with the ISO musicians, as they are so sensitive – it becomes pure joy to make music with them. This is my first time working with Fabien Gabel, and it’s been such a pleasure. We both have similar ideas about the vision of the piece, so it becomes very easy and inspiring to work with him. 

Grab your tickets for October 25 – 26 here.