Beethoven Ninth

Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 (Choral), is the final symphony composed by the legendary Beethoven. Composed in 1824, this monumental work marked a groundbreaking moment in classical music history by introducing the chorus as a prominent element in a symphony. The symphony comprises four movements, with the human voice first heard in the final movement after a series of urgent timpani rolls. The lyrics are from Friedrich Schiller’s ‘Ode to Joy’.

The first performance of the 9th Symphony was met with overwhelming acclaim from the audience. It is undeniable that this Choral Symphony is a true masterpiece, surpassing even its own greatness. A friend, a formally trained musician, once shared an insightful anecdote. He recounted that during the composition of this symphony, Beethoven reached a point where he had no choice but to incorporate human voices, aiming to achieve a grand climax that had never been seen before in symphonies.

I have a particular fondness for the version performed by Georg Solti in the 1960s, featuring the Berlin Philharmonic and the Wiener Singverein. The SACD recording is an excellent match for large orchestra music recordings. I also own the Karajan Beethoven 9th DVD, which my eldest son enjoys dancing to.

In a remarkable feat, Deutsche Grammophon has developed an iPad app for the Beethoven 9th Symphony. This app offers a reasonable price for four performance versions of the symphony. Included are Ferenc Fricsay conducting the Berliner Philharmoniker, the first stereo recording of the symphony in 1958; Karajan conducting the Berliner Philharmoniker in 1962, showcasing his exceptional conducting prowess; Leonard Bernstein conducting the Wiener Philharmoniker, a video recording from 1979; and John Eliot Gardiner conducting the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique in 1992, performed on period instruments, capturing the orchestral sound of Beethoven’s era.

This app offers a wealth of content. In addition to the four representative interpretations of the symphony, you can find detailed information about the symphony and numerous comments from conductors, composers, performers, and reporters praising its greatness. While listening to the music, you can also view the music score, orchestral arrangement, and graphical animations of musical instruments. This makes it accessible to even those like me who aren’t formally musically trained, allowing them to appreciate the work even more.