June 12, 2026: Beethoven Lives Upstairs

Sarah Cartwright, actor (Christoph)
Thad Avery, actor (Uncle)
Northbrook Symphony
Mina Zikri, Music Director

This concert starts at 1:00pm and will be approximately 50 minutes with no intermission. Recommended for ages 6 and up.

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This world famous production features a lively exchange of letters between young Christoph and his Uncle. Their subject is the “madman” who has moved into the upstairs apartment of Christoph’s Vienna home.

The funereal second movement of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony sets the scene as we travel back in time from March 26, 1827, the day of Beethoven's death, into the more intimate setting of young Christoph's house in Vienna a few years before. Christoph's father has just died and Beethoven has taken the room upstairs. As the correspondence with his uncle unfolds, Christoph recounts the horrors of the composer standing naked at the window, water dripping down into their apartment and Beethoven playing late into the night. Finally, after attending the famous first performance of the Ninth Symphony, Christoph comes to understand the genius of Beethoven, the torment of his deafness, and the beauty of his music.

The original audio recording of Beethoven Lives Upstairs claims dozens of top music, educational, and parenting awards. It has gone multi-platinum, been translated and distributed around the world, and made into an Emmy award-winning film. Based on this highly acclaimed recording, the Beethoven Lives Upstairs theatrical symphony concert is an imaginative way to introduce young audiences and their families to the life and music of Ludwig Van Beethoven in a live performance setting. Audiences are inspired by more than 25 excerpts of the master's music, including Moonlight Sonata, Fur Elise, and the great Fifth and Ninth Symphonies.

Classical Kids LIVE! is produced by Classical Kids Music Education, a Chicago-based not-for-profit organization that works to enrich communities through direct access to culturally significant venues, professional artists and organizations, and high-quality theatrical concert productions, while fostering new appreciation for classical music and music history. In combination with the Classical Kids Teaching Edition, Classical Kids LIVE! serves as one of the worlds best educational outreach and community engagement programs contributing to the long-term health of classical music. Having received more awards and honors than any other entity of its kind, Classical Kids is proud to say, “We’re making a difference!”

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Musical Excerpts

1. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: 2nd movement
2. Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67: 1st movement
3. Piano Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90: 2nd movement
4. Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: 4th movement
5. Romance No. 1 for violin and orchestra in G major, Op. 40
6. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, “Pathétique”
7. Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, “Choral”: 2nd movement
8. Piano Sonata No. 10 in G major, Op. 14, No. 2
9. Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, Op. 60: 2nd movement
10. Minuet in G major for piano & bells
11. Violin Sonata No. 5 in G major, Op. 24, “Spring”
12. Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93: 2nd movement
13. Leonore Overture No. 3, Op. 72b
14. Für Elise, WoO 59
15. Polonaise for Military Band in D major, WoO 21
16. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2, “Moonlight”
17. Variations on "Là ci darem la mano" from Mozart's Don Giovanni, WoO 28
18. Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68: 1st movement
19. Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68: 2nd movement: Birds
20. Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68: 4th movement: Storm
21. Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15: 1st movement
22. Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73, “Emperor”: 2nd movement
23. Variations on Paisiello’s "Nel cor più non mi sento" in G major, WoO 70
24. Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, “Choral”: Finale: Bass Sting
25. Rage Over a Lost Penny, Op. 129
26. Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68: 4th movement: Tremolo
27. Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, “Choral”: Finale: “Ode to Joy”
28. Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, “Choral”: Finale
29. Piano Sonata No. 20 in G major, Op. 49, No. 2: 2nd movement
30. Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68: Finale: Shepherd’s Theme

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Mina Zikri
Music Director and Conductor

Mina Zikri was appointed Music Director of the Northbrook Symphony and assumed his artistic leadership duties in the 2019-20 season. As founder, music director, and conductor of the Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago, Zikri uses his considerable talents to forge relationships with artists and musical organizations throughout the world, all in the name of developing new audiences for classical music. As a violinist and assistant conductor to Daniel Barenboim, he travels with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra on their annual tours to major music festivals and concert halls around the world. He returns each season to his native Egypt to guest-conduct the National Symphony.

At a time when even some of the greatest orchestras in the United States are falling under the pressures of financial and cultural uncertainty, Zikri believes that the future of symphony orchestras can, and must, venture beyond traditional expectations.

As a faculty member of the DePaul University Community Music Division, his career distinctions include being named one of 12 finalists in the 2007 Gustav Mahler International Conducting Competition, where he was chosen from 223 candidates from 40 countries. He was awarded a fellowship to the American Academy of Conducting in Aspen, Colo., where he studied with Hans Graf, Hugh Wolff, Christopher Seaman, Robert Spano and Larry Ratcliff. He holds a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Performance Certificate in violin from DePaul University. 

Zikri has been the resident conductor for the Lira ensemble since 2011.  In 2018, Zikri made his conducting debut at Carnegie Hall with the Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago, with a return performance in June 2019.

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