Ludwig van Beethoven headed for Symphony No. 9 literally his entire life. As early as the 1790s, he had an eye on Ode to Joy, perhaps the most well-known poem by Friedrich Schiller, written on the threshold of the French Revolution (1786). In his mature and, in particular, later years, the deaf composer with an acute ‘hearing vision’ increasingly distanced himself from conventional forms and genres and wrote parts beyond the possibilities of instruments of his day. He nurtured the idea of a symphony with a choir for at least several years. The history of the Ninth’s interpretations includes 200 years of staggering revelations and lingering stagnation. Performed by the musicAeterna orchestra, choir, and guest soloists under the baton of Teodor Currentzis, Beethoven’s opus magnum acquires the original poignancy and energy of a recent discovery.

Immortal Beloved
1994
7.1/10

TÁR
2022
7.1/10

Hans Zimmer: Live in Prague
2017
8.5/10

Olivia Rodrigo: GUTS World Tour
2024
7.6/10

Köln 75
2025
7.2/10

The Sound of Music
1965
7.7/10

Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl
2022
7.0/10

Deception
1946
6.6/10

A Late Quartet
2012
6.7/10

Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M
1999
8.6/10

Les Misérables: 25th Anniversary in Concert
2010
8.3/10

Vitus
2006
7.3/10

Prince: Sign 'o' the Times
1987
7.3/10

Mahler
1974
6.7/10

Live Aid
1985
7.9/10

Black Is King
2020
7.2/10

Amadeus
1984
8.0/10

Coda
2020
6.0/10

An American in Paris
1951
7.0/10

Making Love
2000
6.8/10
Mr. Holland's Opus
1995
6.97/10