Born in 1770, Ludwig van Beethoven became one of the most prolific composers in history. Two years later, a violin emerged from Joseph Guarnerius del Gesu's shop in Italy and on an Escondido stage next week, the two will meet.

Violinist Leila Josefowicz was given the 235 year-old del Gesu violin for her efforts helping to promote AIDS awareness.

"My violin's lineage is pretty mysterious. People don't seem to know a whole lot about this instrument," Josefowicz said. "It suits me extremely well in every way. It's not a temperamental instrument, very dependable. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to play it."

The artist and her extraordinary violin will appear with the San Diego Symphony on May 24 at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, where they'll showcase Beethoven's masterwork and Josefowicz's mastery of his composition. The concert (which will be repeated in triplicate at San Diego's Copley Symphony Hall on May 25-27) is an all-Beethoven affair with his Violin Concerto sitting on the program between the composer's "Prometheus Overture" and Symphony No. 3 "Eroica."

When it comes to pieces written for the violin, few have been hailed by musicians like Beethoven's Violin Concerto.

"It's the greatest violin concerto in the world," Josefowicz said.

The Beethoven evening is a tribute Josefowicz hopes proliferates as prominently as the many Mozart festivals.

"There is something incredible about what Beethoven captured in the scope of his career," she said. "From the Violin Concerto during his middle years, to the works late in his life, I think time has proven Beethoven is in his own element."

This is not Josefowicz's first performance alongside San Diego Symphony maestro Jahja Ling.

"Once before," she said. "It was in Florida. I think I was only 17."

Both artists have woven their careers across the world and now once again land on the same stage in Escondido.

"I do remember he was such a wonderful conductor. I'm truly looking forward to working with him in San Diego," Josefowicz said. "I am really looking forward to performing Beethoven with Jahja."

Even with an ever-expanding composer base, the classical genre is widely known for what was produced in the past. Josefowicz treasures her opportunities to work with new composers and bridge the classic and contemporary music worlds.

"Even with a strong traditional education I will never know these great composers like Beethoven. I crave more spontaneity with creative writing and composition," Josefowicz said.

The violinist has worked with composer John Adams so frequently that she could be his stringed muse.

"It can be very much like living in a museum if you don't break out and do more current masterworks. I think I was craving that and it is such a wonderful thing, like a springboard. There are a number of commissions coming up for me in the next few years."

At the age of 3, Josefowicz first picked up the violin.

"It was my father's favorite instrument. The first years were difficult," she said. Considering she was performing with Ling by the time she was a teen, those formative years were rough but have proven fruitful.

"That's where I developed that part of me that loves working towards something with the challenge of overcoming difficulties. That has carried me until this day. To take on challenging projects and things that may seem difficult to begin with, to overcome that, there is nothing more rewarding."

After a varied series of performances with San Diego Symphony on her resume, Josefowicz is ready to write her next chapter with the orchestra.

"I am looking forward to coming back," she said. "I really know now what path I'm on and the direction I want to go in, and that's a really wonderful thing to know that as an artist. It was a long process and I feel lucky to be where I am now."