Tempestuous, powerful, serene… feel the combined passion of hundreds of musicians as they bring Beethoven’s music to life. The National Symphony leads you on an emotional journey through love, loss, and majesty, before concluding with the famous "Ode to Joy."

All Beethoven Program (subject to change)
Leonore Overture No. 3
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat
Highlights from Fidelio
Finale from Symphony No. 9 – "Ode to Joy"


At nineteen years of age, Joyce Yang was awarded the silver medal at the Twelfth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. She has subsequently appeared with the National Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, and many other major orchestras. Ms. Yang captivates audiences and colleagues with her warm and generous personality, combined with musicianship that belies her age. She is featured in In the Heart of Music, the film documentary about the 2005 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.

American conductor Emil de Cou returns for his fourth summer as NSO @ Wolf Trap Festival Conductor. Emil joined the National Symphony conducting staff as Assistant Conductor in 2002 and was promoted to Associate Conductor in the fall of 2003. He has appeared as guest conductor with many leading orchestras, including those of Philadelphia, Houston, St. Louis, Detroit, Montreal, Boston Pops, Minnesota, and San Francisco.