David Stewart Wiley conducted the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra on Saturday evening to celebrate Beethoven’s 250th birthday this year; the concert took place in Shaftman Hall at the Jefferson Center before an audience of about 600.

Sandwiched between two familiar works by Beethoven was the less familiar Cello Concerto by Edouard Lalo, featuring Kelley Mikkelsen, principal cellist of the orchestra.

The evening began with Beethoven’s Fidelio Overture. Wiley led a vital and disciplined performance with plenty of opportunities for the French horns and the woodwinds to shine. But the dynamic energy of this piece was driven by the strings, under the very capable leadership of concertmaster Akemi Takayama.

The Lalo concerto closed off the first half of the concert.

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