The first four notes of Beethoven's 5th Symphony are perhaps the most well-known in the world. We hear them and we immediately know the piece. In reality, it is only two notes, because the first note is repeated three times: da, da, da, dah! This piece crosses cultural boundaries and has been adapted into all different types of orchestration, including versions that incorporate rock 'n' roll and disco beats.

Beethoven wrote his Symphony No. 5 between 1804 and 1808. That's 210 years ago, and yet it sounds as fresh and inspiring today as the day it was first performed. That is the secret of great music: It is so well-written and interesting that it passes the test of time.

This is a great piece of music, but surprisingly enough, it is the first time I have conducted the piece with the Allentown Symphony. I have conducted this symphony many times with other orchestras, but not here in the Lehigh Valley. Perhaps I've waited because as a conductor, you want to put your personal stamp on a piece, especially one as well-known as the 5th Symphony.

When I perform the 5th Symphony, I like to take Beethoven's written tempo markings, which are quite brisk, and I try to bring out the humor in the way he develops the theme and variations in the 2nd movement. The grandeur of the last movement, with his innovative addition of the piccolo, the contra-bassoon and trombones, always creates an exciting finale for this great work.

Paired with the Beethoven Symphony, I have selected Elgar's Cello Concerto, a meandering, thoughtful piece that also displays the incredible virtuosity of our guest soloist, Matt Haimovitz.

Matt Haimovitz is already known in the Lehigh Valley for his performances at Godfrey Daniels, Bethlehem. He made a name for himself early in his career by playing interesting repertoire in alternate types of venues like clubs, coffeehouses and bars. He is passionate about reaching new audiences and sharing music with people of all backgrounds and interests.

Opening the concert is an exciting piece by the Puerto Rican-born American composer, Roberto Sierra. We will be performing the Pennsylvania premiere of his new work "Montuno."

Montuno means "from the mountains" and is based on dance form rhythms that later influenced salsa music. The first performance of this work took place last year in Maplewood, N.J., and was enthusiastically received.

Sierra is a composer who we will be seeing and hearing more of in the future because we recently commissioned him to write a violin showpiece for the 20th anniversary of the Allentown Symphony's National Schadt String Competition. I wanted to bring his music to our audience so that you would get to know his style of writing. He will be attending the concerts so you can hear him talk about what inspires him and how he composes.

At 8 p.m. Nov. 1 and 3 p.m. Nov. 2 in Miller Symphony Hall, the Allentown Symphony will perform my interpretation of Beet-hoven's 5th Symphony; cellist Matt Haimovitz will perform the passionate Cello Concerto by British composer Edward Elgar; and we will feature the Pennsylvania premiere of the Latin rhythm-influenced piece, "Montuno" by Roberto Sierra.

On Nov. 2, if you come early at 2 p.m., you can hear the Allentown Symphony's Young Musician's String Festival, with performances of melody excerpts from Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 and Roberto Sierra's "Montuno." Students in Grades 4 through 8 from all over the Lehigh Valley participate in this pre-concert program.

For information on how to enroll your child, go to: ASAeducation.weeble.com.

Diane Wittry is Music Director-Conductor of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, Artistic Director (USA), International Cultural Exchange Program for Classical Musicians, Sarajevo Philharmonic, Bosnia; and author, "Beyond the Baton" (Oxford University Press).

Concert tickets: Miller Symphony Hall Box Office, 23 N. Sixth St., Allentown; allentownsymphony.org; 610-432-6715