The Oregon Symphony presents a New Year's Eve concert featuring Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, performed with the Oregon Chorale, Pacific Youth Choir, and Portland State University Choirs.
The Oregon Symphony is bringing Beethoven's Ninth Symphony to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on Wednesday, December 30, and Thursday, December 31, 2026. It's a big production, and the symphony isn't doing it alone. They're joined by the Oregon Chorale, conducted by Jason Sabino, the Pacific Youth Choir under Chris Maunu, and the Portland State University Choirs led by Ethan Sperry. Associate Conductor Su-Han Yang is on the podium.
If you've never heard the Ninth live, it's a good place to start with the classics. It's built around the idea of human unity, and it all leads up to the "Ode to Joy" theme—the part most people recognize—which is sung by a full choir to a poem by Friedrich Schiller. The symphony ends with a kiss, and the text makes it clear: "You millions, I embrace you. / This kiss is for all the world!"
The Oregon Symphony lists these as part of its Special Concerts series, which means they're eligible for the Choose Your Own series here in Portland. The venue is the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall at 1037 SW Broadway, a former movie palace that's spent nearly a century as one of the city's main stages for music and performance.
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Both nights start at 7:30 PM, with doors opening at 6:30 PM, so you've got plenty of time to get settled before the first note. If you're deciding between the two, the 30th is a Wednesday and the 31st is New Year's Eve, so you can pick the night that fits your plans best.
Date
30 December – 31 December
19:30
Location
Arlene Schnitzer Concert HallPrice
Paid
Recommended Age
+14 years
