»Freude, schöner Götterfunke!« There is hardly any other work that expresses the power of music to connect people more powerfully than Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. With its overwhelming final chorus »Ode to Joy«, it is not only a milestone in music history, but also a timeless commitment to humanity, hope and community.
At the turn of the year, the Ninth has a special radiance: it invites us to gratefully acknowledge the past and welcome the new with confidence. The tradition of bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new with Beethoven’s Ninth in the festive atmosphere of the Laeiszhalle has long since become a highlight in Hamburg’s concert calendar – and is taking on even greater significance in a world full of upheaval and uncertainty. Beethoven’s message remains relevant today: it calls on us to recognise that joy and humanity know no bounds. »This kiss to the whole world!« The musical direction this season is once again in the hands of the symphony’s principal conductor, Sylvain Cambreling. A top-class ensemble will be on stage for the solo parts: Jacquelyn Wagner (soprano), Sophie Harmsen (alto), AJ Glueckert (tenor) and Markus Eiche (bass). Together with the renowned Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Choir Hamburg and members of the EuropaChorAkademie, they join forces with the orchestra for the musical highlight of the evening – when Beethoven’s vision of unity and joy takes shape in the grand final chorus. A concert that not only celebrates the moment, but also looks to the future with joy and confidence.
PERFORMERS
Symphoniker Hamburg orchestra
Carl-Philipp-Emanuel-Bach-Chor Hamburg choir
Mitglieder der EuropaChorAkademie
Jacquelyn Wagner soprano
Sophie Harmsen alto
AJ Glueckert tenor
Markus Eiche bass
Sylvain Cambreling conductor
PROGRAM
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125
