Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 "Choral" (Live)

Featuring

Julia Doyle
Claude Eichenberger
Bernhard Berchtold
Wolf Matthias Friedrich
Rudolf Lutz
Chor der J.S. Bach-Stiftung

Orchester der J.S. Bach-Stiftung
Ludwig van Beethoven

Did you know?

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Cultural Impact

Beethoven drastically shortened and reordered Schiller's original "Ode to Joy" poem for his symphony, giving key phrases maximum musical impact.

Recording & Production

This recording of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony was made live at the Tonhalle Zurich on October 1, 2013, as part of the "Wort & Klang" concert series.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Rudolf Lutz, the artistic director of the J. S. Bach Foundation, views Beethoven as a master who embodies both titanic, wild elements and a striving for order and astonishing sweetness in his music.

Composition History

Beethoven's Ninth Symphony was performed in nine different Swiss cities between August and October 2013, including renowned venues like the Stadtcasino in Basel and the Tonhalle in Zurich.

Compositional Technique

The first movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony presents a challenging "mountain ascent" for the horns, and the entire work traverses a wild, almost alien musical landscape.

Interpretation

The conductor, Rudolf Lutz, believes that Beethoven's often demanding tempos are well-suited to a smaller ensemble and the flexible mindset of an early music group.

Performer Biography

Rudolf Lutz, the artistic director, has conducted Beethoven's Ninth Symphony twelve times as part of the "Wort & Klang" concert series, which helped him appreciate the work's dimensions.