A touch of harpsichord, the stratospheric sound of piccolo trumpets, a pair of engaging guest artists and a masterful ability to inhabit the sound worlds of two distinctive eras of European art music were among the highlights at Saturday's Peoria Symphony Orchestra concert.

The eras in question were the baroque and late classical - the former represented by Bach, the latter by Beethoven. As noted by music director David Commanday, in Bach's time the composer is still a servant, wedded to worship and dance forms. But by the time of Beethoven, the composer has become something different: a genius, a hero who stands apart from both the masses and the elite.

Read the review by Gary Panetta from this Sunday's Peoria Journal Star.