For this task, I listened to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. The Sydney Opera House conducted this concert in 2020. This performance lasted an hour and ten minutes and took place in the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia. The complexity and sophistication of the work are exceptional, given the time in which it was written. It calls for a bigger choir and orchestra. Symphony No. 9 is critically acclaimed because Beethoven was among the first prominent composers to include vocalists in an orchestral performance.
Edo de Waart was the orchestra’s principal conductor for the concert. The composition was played in four acts, each built in intensity while including a unique set of parallels. The band builds to a confident and fearless sound in the opening allegro of the first act. Typically played at a tempo of about 72 beats per minute, this symphony is constructed in the key of D major. The second movement has a lively, quick tempo, somewhat faster than the allegro. The melody has a solemn and somber tone at the beginning, but it gets more upbeat and humorous as it progresses. I discovered that this part is called “Scherzo,” which is the Italian term meaning “playful.”
The music calms considerably from the second movement’s speed in the third movement, which is an adagio. From what I have heard and read, the only real purpose seems to have been to increase the piece’s dynamic range. As someone who enjoys dramatic shifts in tone, I found the shift from humorous and joyful to more serious about being satisfying. The prominence of the choir in the final fourth section made it my favorite element of the rendition. This movement is particularly well-known since it features the “Ode to Joy” motif. It quickly returns to its slower tempo and changes to an allegro one.
Hearing the whole composition in one go was thrilling. There was perfect coordination between the musicians, and all participants understood their roles. The orchestra’s rhythm section is among my favorites since the violins, violas, and cellos blend so wonderfully. When performed by a full band, this symphony deserves its reputation as one of Beethoven’s classics.