Beethoven | Symphony No. 9 in D minor | Ode To Joy (1824)

The symphony is regarded by many critics and musicologists as Beethoven's greatest work and one of the supreme achievements in the history of music.

One of the best-known works in common practice music, it stands as one of the most frequently performed symphonies in the world.

The Ninth was the first example of a major composer using voices in a symphony. The final (4th) movement of the symphony features four vocal soloists and a chorus in the parallel modulated key D major.

The text was adapted from the "Ode to Joy", a poem written by Friedrich Schiller in 1785 and revised in 1803, with additional text written by Beethoven.

In 2001, Beethoven's original, hand-written manuscript of the score, held by the Berlin State Library, was added to the Memory of the World Programme Heritage list established by the United Nations, becoming the first musical score so designated.

PERFORMANCE

Prom 18: Beethoven Cycle -- Symphony No. 9, 'Choral'

Friday 27 July 6.30pm -- c. 7.55pm |Royal Albert Hall

Anna Samuil (soprano)

Waltraud Meier (mezzo-soprano)

Michael König (tenor)

René Pape (bass)

National Youth Choir of Great Britain

West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

Daniel Barenboim (conductor)