TAKE FIVE: Las Vegas Philharmonic performs Beethoven

Friday, April 7, 2006 | 7:14 a.m.

Move over Mozart. You had your party. At 8 p.m. Saturday, the Las Vegas Philharmonic, which celebrated Mozart's 250th birthday in February, will present "Ludwig van Beethoven - The Hero Strides Forth," at UNLV's Artemus Ham Hall. Five reasons to check out Saturday's show.

1. Fan-tastic

If you love Beethoven, this concert is pure Beethoven. This is the first time the Las Vegas Philharmonic has presented an all-Beethoven concert.

2. Small admiration

Some argue that Beethoven's Third Symphony "Eroica" was the composer's favorite. Inspired by Beethoven's admiration for Napoleon, it was a powerful piece that broke from the traditional symphonic styles of Mozart and Haydn. However, after Napoleon promoted himself politically, a disheartened Beethoven removed the dedication.

3. Three-in-one

The Corinthian Trio will perform Beethoven's "Concerto in C Major, Op. 56." The trio is made up of New York City violinist Stefan Milenkovich, who is a faculty member at the Juilliard School; chamber musician Ani Aznavoorian, who performs on a cello made by her father and has performed with several symphonies throughout the world; and concert pianist and composer Adam Neiman, who has 40 concertos in his repertoire.

4. Be a hero

The lively and entertaining "King Stephen Overture, Op. 117" is rarely performed. It was written to accompany a Hungarian play about a national hero.

5. Auf Wiedersehen

This is the second to the last major concert of the season for retiring conductor Hal Weller. Tickets are $25, $45 and $66. For more information, call 895-2787.