WDR Sinfonieorchester
Conductor: Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Recording date: 26.02.2018 – 03.03.2018
Ludwig van Beethoven’s legendary 9th symphony. A colossal project. The Lord of the Rings among all symphonies at that time: exceptional length, huge orchestra, four singers and a choir.
But the singing takes place only in the very end. Beethoven took the lyrics from a poem by Friedrich Schiller. Beethoven wanted to use his Ode to Joy for quite some time. Finally it happened in 1824.
This final part of the symphony has become one of the most known pieces of classical music worldwide and was also adopted as the anthem of the European Union.
Somewhat lesser known is the second movement. One of the most dynamic three-four times ever. Definitely nothing to be waltzing to.
Beethoven’s older colleagues Haydn and Mozart put out one symphony after another. Only with Beethoven this changed and symphonies became more intricate and complicated to work on. The 9th became Beethoven’s last symphony. For all composers that followed him, a ninth symphony became a magical frontier.
