Join Victoria Martino on December 16, in a celebration of Beethoven’s actual 250th birthday with what she calls “a Spectacular Sensory Spectacle of Sight and Sound!”

With an excellent academic and performance background, Martino will draw upon her unique and extensive expertise in music, art, literature, and history to combine all the arts to transport the audience viscerally into the life and times of Beethoven. The Wednesday evening event will be a synchronization of musical and visual material and include dramatic readings from Beethoven’s correspondence.

Martino has a long tradition of anniversary concerts and lectures at the Athenaeum, and this event is her own unique way of honoring Beethoven on his birthday under the current pandemic-imposed restrictions.

Martino said of her approach to the celebration, “My aim is for it to be an immersive experience!” It will not be the usual lecture-concert, because Martino will not be playing the violin live. She added, “On the other hand, I don't think of it as a ‘lecture’ in the traditional sense, because I envision it as a ‘sight and sound’ experience—as much as possible—in a virtual space!” Instead of live music, she will curate several musical recordings to create the visceral atmosphere of Beethoven’s era.

The event will stream live, at 6:30 p.m. Individual tickets are $17 for members, $22 nonmembers.