Sacramento winters have a way of sharpening the appetite for live performance. When tule fog settles in and the days stay short, a great orchestra on a great program is one of the city’s quiet pleasures — and on January 23 and 24, 2027, the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera is delivering one of the season’s most satisfying lineups: Beethoven’s Iconic Fifths at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center.
Two Beethoven masterpieces, one evening (or one matinée). Both are among the most familiar pieces in the classical canon, yet the Sacramento Philharmonic’s performances have a habit of making familiar music sound freshly alive.
What the Program Is
The evening pairs two of Beethoven’s most celebrated works back to back. First comes the Piano Concerto No. 5, nicknamed the “Emperor” — a sprawling, commanding piece that opens with the soloist playing almost immediately rather than waiting through a long orchestral introduction. It’s the kind of concerto that fills the hall from the first bar. Following intermission, the orchestra turns to Symphony No. 5: four notes, one of the most recognized openings in all of music, and forty minutes of relentless forward momentum.
Together they make for a concert with real weight. Neither piece is background. Both reward close listening.
The Performers
Ari Pelto, music director of the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera, conducts both performances. Pelto has led the orchestra since 2014 and knows how to balance ambition with accessibility — his programs tend to push audiences without losing them.
The piano soloist is Michelle Cann, returning to the Sacramento Philharmonic for this engagement. Cann is a Philadelphia-based pianist known for combining technical precision with an expressive, unhurried approach to phrasing. The Beethoven Emperor is exactly the kind of showpiece that rewards that combination.
The Two Performances
There are two chances to catch the program:
- Saturday, January 23, 2027 at 7:30 pm — the evening performance
- Sunday, January 24, 2027 at 2:00 pm — the matinée
Both are at the same venue and feature the same program. The matinée is a good option for those who prefer not to drive home late, and it works well for anyone making an afternoon of it in Midtown before the show.
About the Venue
SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center sits at 1301 L Street in downtown Sacramento, at 13th and L Streets, directly across from the Capitol Rose Garden. It’s a mid-sized hall — large enough to carry full orchestral sound, intimate enough that even seats further back feel connected to the stage.
The venue does not currently offer in-person box office services. All ticketing is handled online through the Sac Phil website or by phone.
The Details
- What: Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera — Beethoven’s Iconic Fifths
- Program: Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 (“Emperor”) + Beethoven Symphony No. 5
- Conductor: Ari Pelto
- Piano: Michelle Cann
- Saturday, January 23, 2027: 7:30 pm
- Sunday, January 24, 2027: 2:00 pm
- Venue: SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center, 1301 L Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
- Tickets: Available at sacphilopera.org
- Box Office Phone: (916) 476-5975, Tuesday–Friday, 10 AM–1 PM and 2–3 PM
- Parking: Memorial Garage (801 14th St), Hyatt Regency (1135 12th St), Ace Parking (900 13th St); see SacPark.org for rates
Before or After the Show
The block around SAFE PAC is well-supplied with restaurants. Ella on Capitol Avenue has long been the go-to pre-theater dinner in this part of downtown — reservations are advisable on a Saturday evening. Mulvaney’s Building & Loan on 19th Street is a short walk and worth it. For something closer and lower-key, Pizza Rock on K Street is one block away. For the Sunday matinée crowd, the Midtown grid in both directions from 13th and L offers plenty of brunch options before the 2 pm curtain.
For classical music fans looking at the broader winter season, the Sacramento Ballet’s Nutcracker 2026 runs in December, and the Candlelight Concerts series offers classical programs throughout the season at smaller venues around town. The Sac Phil’s own full 2026–27 season runs through May 2027 with opera, chamber music, and more.
Bottom Line
Beethoven’s Fifth and the Emperor Concerto on the same program, with a returning soloist of Michelle Cann’s caliber, is exactly the kind of evening the Sacramento Philharmonic’s audience comes back for. Both performances — the Saturday evening and the Sunday matinée — give options for different schedules. Tickets are available now through the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera website. January in Sacramento can feel long. Two hours of Beethoven at 13th and L is a reliable remedy.