Beethoven 5 at Ohio Theatre

The 2025 - 2026 Masterworks Season: Beethoven 5

We are so excited to welcome the Columbus Symphony Orchestra back to the grand and historic Ohio Theatre as they open their brand-new 2025–2026 Masterworks season in the most epic way imaginable—with Beethoven’s legendary Fifth Symphony and his powerful “Emperor” Piano Concerto, live and larger than life in the heart of downtown Columbus. On Thursday, September 26th, Maestro Rossen Milanov will take the stage to guide us through one of the most timeless and transformative nights of music this season, with world-renowned pianist Anna Fedorova joining the CSO for a performance you’ll be talking about for the rest of the year.

There’s something unmistakable about hearing Beethoven’s Fifth live — those first four notes? You know them. Everyone does. And yet when you’re in the room with a full orchestra breathing life into them, they feel brand new. They strike like lightning. This symphony, from darkness to triumph, has inspired generations of composers, writers, and creators across the globe, and to experience it in person is something truly spiritual. There’s no doubt it’ll feel even more electric here at the Ohio Theatre, where every note can echo and soar across the red velvet balconies and gilded walls.

But that’s just the second half of the night. Before that, Anna Fedorova—a pianist with a rare combination of fire and grace—will join the orchestra for Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, the “Emperor.” It’s a piece full of drama and delicacy, power and poetry, and Fedorova’s performance promises to take us all on a breathtaking journey. From her very first entrance, expect to be transported. This is a piece that balances technical brilliance with deep emotional core, and paired with Milanov’s passionate conducting, we know this will be one for the books.

Beyond the stage, this night is also a celebration—a celebration of a new season, of a community coming together through music, and of what the Columbus Symphony continues to bring to this city. Whether you’re a lifelong symphony-goer or just starting to explore classical music, there’s no better way to experience the magic of live orchestral performance than right here, right now.

So—grab your friends, get dressed up (or come as you are), and settle in for a night that will leave you inspired. Beethoven 5 with the CSO is not just a concert—it’s an experience. And this September, Columbus is where you’ll want to be.  We’ll see you on the 26th.