The countdown is ticking on the Sydney Opera House’s YouTube channel, which will enable interested parties anywhere in the world to watch their performance of five Beethoven Concertos for free.

The legendary American pianist Emanuel Ax is the featured soloist for each evening while the orchestra will perform under the baton of their Chief Conductor David Robertson. The demanding program consists of all five Beethoven piano concertos spread over three evenings.

On Friday June 13 the SSO will perform Piano Concertos Nos 1 and 2, works that track the young Beethoven’s ambitious and energetic approach to composition.

On Wednesday June 18, the SSO will perform Piano Concertos Nos 3 and 4, which were composed while Beethoven was in his 30’s, and stylistically run parallel to the Fifth Symphony, which was written around the same time.

Finally, on Saturday June 21, the SSO will perform Beethoven’s Emperor Piano Concerto, a virtuosic work with a majestic spirit – Beethoven’s Emperor is touted as “truly music for heroes” by the SSO.

The performances will be live streamed from 8:20pm AEST on the SOH YouTube Channel here. For more information, check out the SSO program guide...