Beethoven & Bologne: the Winds of Change

The French Revolution was a pivotal moment for many artists, philosophers, and composers who were inspired by the movement’s ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Our 2025/26 Season finale at Koerner Hall salutes this uplifting spirit with music by Ludwig van Beethoven and Joseph Bologne, composers who embraced change and challenged the status quo.    

A trailblazer in his own right, the renowned Japanese-American violinist Shunske Sato makes his Tafelmusik debut directing these performances. Concertmaster of Concerto Köln and former Artistic Leader of the Netherlands Bach Society, Sato is known for performances that push the envelope and “dig deeper into his instrument” (Gramophone).

Leading the orchestra from the violin, Sato directs Beethoven’s Symphony no. 3, “Eroica,” a work that profoundly changed the symphonic form while staying true to the composer’s ethos. In fact, Beethoven famously revoked his original dedication to Napoleon Bonaparte after the statesman declared himself emperor.

Throughout his life, the influential Black 18th-century composer Joseph Bologne confronted enormous adversities around class and race and eventually rose to the pinnacle of Parisian society to become one of France’s heroes.

Sato’s “phenomenal technique and effortless and light touch” (Stanford Daily) will serve him well in Bologne’s stunning Violin Concerto op. 3, no. 2, a work that challenges even the most seasoned soloists with its virtuosic demands.