Zeyda Ruga Suzuki and Hidetaro Suzuki will be performing at First United Methodist Church in Middlebury celebrating Beethoven’s 250th anniversary. Ruga Suzuki is a pianst while Suzuki is a violinist. Tickers are $20.

Press Release

MIDDLEBURY — Acclaimed pianist Zeyda Ruga Suzuki and violinist Hidetaro Suzuki bring the celebration of Ludvig van Beethoven’s 250th birthday to Michiana audiences in a special joint performance at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4.

The artists’ concert, the latest in the Cyrstal Valley Concert Series’ new session, will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Middlebury.

Ruga Suzuki and Suzuki’s singular program will feature three of the 10 sonatas Beethoven composed for piano and violin. Sonata No. 7 in C minor, Op. 30, No. 2: Sonata No. 8 in G major, Op. 30, No. 3; and Sonata No. 9 in A major, Op. 47 “Kreutzer” have been selected by the husband and wife duo to perform in honor of the composer’s legacy.

Pianist Ruga Suzuki has performed as a soloist and with symphonies around the world, including the Hong Kong Philharmonic and the Indianapolis Symphony. A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, Ruga Suzuki went on to earn her doctorate of music at Laval University, and has served as a visiting professor of piano at Indiana University in South Bend.

Violinist Suzuki served 44 years as concertmaster of two major orchestras, the Indianapolis Symphony and the Quebec Symphony. A frequent collaborator with Ruga Suzuki, he is also an international recitalist and teacher at various universities, including Indiana University at Bloomington.

The Suzukis’ Oct. 4 performance can be viewed in person at the Middlebury First United Methodist Church, located at 720 S. Main St. in Middlebury or online through access to live streaming available at the start of the event. Tickets are $20 for either option and can be purchased through the Crystal Valley Concert Series site, crystalvalleyconcert.com. Tickets for in-person viewing will also be sold at the door.

In observance of COVID-19 guidelines, attendees at all concerts in the Crystal Valley series are required to wear masks. Space will be limited and social distancing will be observed in the seating of patrons.

The Crystal Valley Concert Series offers greater access to the performing arts in the Michiana area through the imaginatively curated collection of chamber music performances. Concerts include both instrumental and choral music, and provide increased opportunities for both music education and cultural enrichment to regional audiences. The season runs from September through June, with soloists or ensembles performing twice monthly.