The concert, “Elevating Winter Spirits,” will be performed at Ridgefield High School, 700 North Salem Road (Route 116).

Beethoven’s only opera focuses on a romantic plot in which the wife Leonore disguises herself as a boy (named Fidelio) to rescue her unjustly imprisoned husband. The composer produced four different overtures for Fidelio, including Leonore No. 3, which he deemed too powerful for the material already written for Act I.

The work’s overture captures the romantic and heroic aspects of the story. It concludes in triumph, and at one point the score suggests that only two or three violins play the difficult, rapid passages leading to victory.

The Dvorák serenade is a challenging work for ten winds, bass, and cello.

The catchy opening march recurs in the finale. The lyrical third movement reaches a passionate climax, and the finale culminates in thrilling fanfares which require virtuoso playing.

The Brahms work is considered by many to be one of the composer’s best symphonies, in which many ideas flow from the first three notes of the opening movement.

The orchestration features beautiful writing for cellos and horn solos. There are drama and romanticism in the first movement, and even a beautiful melody which brings to mind his famous lullaby.

In the finale, the return to its beginning passages brings to mind another of the composer’s works: the opening of Mahler’s First Symphony. The movement is heroic, ending in a rapid brass fanfare. The world premiere in Vienna was so successful that a movement had to be repeated.

Tickets are $25 to $50 for adults, and $15 to $30 for students (ages 18 and under).

More information about tickets and subscriptions is available from the orchestra office, call 203-438-3889 or  visit www.RidgefieldSymphony.org.