Durchbruch!

To mark the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death, the orchestra turns to his Ninth for the first time, together with the Süddeutscher Konzertchor, which is also taking part for the first time. The concert is part of the season’s cycle “Menschwerden” (“Becoming Human”).

The concert opens with the world premiere of a work by Patrick Giesel. Combining orchestra and choir, it enters into dialogue with Beethoven to ask about human coexistence: about humanity, peace and hope.

Ludwig van Beethoven composed his Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 between 1822 and 1824, when he was already almost completely deaf. The premiere in Vienna on 7 May 1824 was a triumphant success. The work broke the mould of the genre: in the finale, soloists and chorus join a major symphony for the first time. After three instrumental movements – the tension-driven first, the rhythmically exhilarating scherzo and the heartfelt Adagio – the music seems to falter. Then the baritone interrupts with the words “O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!” (“O friends, not these sounds!”), and Schiller’s ode “An die Freude” leads into a call for the brotherhood of all people. Its melody is known today as the Anthem of Europe.