Centered on the ideas of redemption, recovery, and resilience, this Classical Connections program takes its inspiration from the Japanese art of kintsugi: repairing broken pottery with gold and other beautiful materials – highlighting, rather than hiding, an object’s brokenness, and making the repair itself a thing of beauty.

Desolate and contemplating suicide because of the inevitable advance of his deafness, Ludwig van Beethoven wrote that his destiny to create art alone would keep him alive. Written at the same time as his struggle with depression, Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus (Creatures of Prometheus) is an epic battle between darkness and light. Beethoven emerged from his darkness to create transcendent works of beauty and humanity, in spite of – or perhaps because of – his struggles.

Michael R. Dudley Jr.

Events

Upcoming events

Mar 14, 2026

Classical Connections: Featuring Tift Merritt · Wilmington Symphony Orchestra

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