“Beethoven is in the house,” announced stage manager Mark Keller, and sure enough he was. 

A colorful bust of a scowling man with tousled brown hair and a flamboyant red tie presided on a plinth on stage, as the Downey Symphony Orchestra played its birthday tribute to him on the anniversary of his 250th birthday. Beethoven didn’t look a day over 40, which he actually was, when he completed tonight’s masterpieces.

Conductor Sharon conducted the audience a capella in singing Happy Birthday to Dear Ludwig to start the concert. And two hours later, spectacular piano soloist Sung Chang gave us an encore of the same melody with a thrilling set of trilling hummingbird variations to conclude it.

In between these impromptu moments, the audience was captivated by Beethoven’s Creatures of Prometheus Overture, the romantic Second Symphony, and the piano and orchestra pyrotechnics of the Emperor Piano Concerto #5.

Seen in the lobby at Intermission: former Downey Symphonic Society president Nick Frankart and wife Mary, a Downey native; and contributors Adele Ambruso and Mary Golay. President of the Downey Family YMCA Board of Managers Greg Welch; and long-time patrons Tom and Michele Hutchinson, were enjoying the evening, as were artist Roy Anthony Shabla and poet Clifton Snider.

Glass-worker Terry Walker was busy choosing her favorite item at the art show. As Terry said, “Beethoven under the wonderful leadership of our fantastic conductor is super loud and to amazingly tranquil.”

DSS President Don Marshall encouraged the audience to take pictures with their smartphones and display them on social media.  Dorothy Pemberton did just that, with a selfie showing Downey patriarch Bob Brazelton, with Vicky Carnivale and friends in a group selfie which Dorothy promptly put on Facebook, showing everyone what an awesome evening it was.

It’s nice to see a nearly full house. Audience numbers are climbing, which makes the orchestra members happy too. They don’t really enjoy playing to empty seats. As always, the public is invited to “come on down” and share the evening. Cindy Kovach and family, “her loves,” had a great time.

Observant patrons noticed that tonight’s was a smaller orchestra, 42 members. Beethoven obligingly scored the instrumentation for this Second Symphony with less members than, say, his monumental 9th.  That allowed Music Director Lavery to keep within DSS guidelines and offer one smaller concert along with two bigger, and costlier, evenings.

Also seen gracing the lobby: Steve and Mary Lorenzetti; long-time patron Bernice Mancebo Stumps; and Barbara and Roy Beard. Katie Hare and a posse of her Downey friends were snug on the patio with its efficient heat lamps.  It was a clear and only slightly cool Southern California evening, but the lamps kept off the chill. Many more patrons were there, and I apologize for not knowing all your names, but your presence is appreciated.

Mary Stevens organized the program table as always, assisted by fellow Board member JoAnne Gronley.  Joyce Sherwin, rosy in a vibrant silk jacket, kept an eye on lobby traffic.  The Board members of the Society not only love classical music, they all relish their tasks in putting on the evening show.

Crowning moment of the evening was Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto Number 5 in E-flat major.  From the moment pianist Sung Chang walked on stage, he owned it, and the audience too.

His flourishes and arpeggios showed the orchestra that “the piano was the boss,” as Lars Clutterham’s elegant program notes said it would.

And as Music Director Lavery had predicted, the audience jumped to its feet for a standing ovation when Chang played his last chord and raised both hands in the air.  Why can’t male soloists receive flowers from the audience/

After the concert, the audience was invited to a champagne and birthday cupcake reception in the lobby.  Eric and Nicole Pierce assisted with the set- up, and Bill Hare and Frank Kearns opened bottle after bottle.  Board member Ryan Keene poured. Ryan needs to get a necktie with musical notes on it to match Bill and Mark Keller in thematic opulence. 

Principal Bass player Mark Artusio said of the soloist, “When Chang walked into rehearsal, the orchestra knew right away that he was magnetic. And he turned out to be a great performer too. But the main thing we learned is that he is a really nice person. The orchestra responded by performing brilliantly with him.” 

Mark has long served as the Orchestra’s Personnel Manager, and as a member of the governing Symphonic Society Board.

As always under Maestro Sharon’s sure baton, the caliber of the evening’s performance was superb.  It almost seemed that Beethoven’s bust had stopped scowling, and was begrudgingly seen to smile.  

Also visible, Pat Gil and Andrew Wahlquist of the Downey Arts Coalition.  Andrew’s wife, actress Lana Joy, acknowledged by name from the stage each artist who participated in the lobby art show, this one titled “Retro.”  Contributing artists ranged from Downey to Compton, Long Beach and Van Nuys.

The remodeled Downey Theatre is almost ready for its formal debut. The landscaping is nearly completed on the patio, and only a hand railing needs to be installed on the patio steps leading to the parking lot.  Dorothy Pemberton, of the oversight committee for the City of Downey’s Measure S, noted that.

Still to be constructed, the elevator which will be available for handicapped patrons, to take them to the second floor. With that improvement, the art show can expand to the mezzanine level.

You can catch the Downy Symphony Orchestra in a free performance at the Downey Theatre’s own celebration of 50 years here in Downey on April 18.  As part of a day-long Saturday civic treat, the Orchestra is scheduled to perform at 5 pm in a 40 -minute set. 

Music Director Lavery has chosen to give the audience a rare sampling of the DSS’s Music in the School’s program. In the spotlight:  Mussorgsky’s Pictures from an Exhibition, which the kids learn about and love.  Bring the family.

Next subscription concert: April 11, for a program of American composers headlined by Leonard Bernstein’s Overture to Candide and his suite of his dances from “West Side Story.” Expect also Charles Ives’s Variations on America, and Open World from Captain Marvel by Pinar Toprak. Also pieces by Aaron Copeland and Conrad Pope.

The April 11 concert also features the annual bidding war for the privilege of guest-conducting with the Maestro’s baton. The experience of a lifetime.

If you’re reading this and it sounds like fun, as always the public is invited to become part of the family at a Downey Symphony concert.  As Marsha Rodriguez Milner said, “I can never walk through the doors of this beautiful theatre without recalling our performing arts days here. But tonight, it’s all about spending time with great friends, hearing some beautiful music and listening to our wonderful hometown orchestra.” 

A champagne reception will follow the April 11 concert. Tickets are available now at downeysymphony.org.