CAPE SYMPHONY MASTERPIECE5

BEETHOVEN'S NINTH EXPERIENCE

MAY 7, 2016 @ 7:30PM &

MAY 8, 2016 @ 3:00PM

JUNG-HO PAK, CONDUCTOR

ILANA DAVIDSON, SOPRANO

KRISTA RIVER, MEZZO-SOPRANO

CHARLES BLANDY, TENOR

DAVID KRAVITZ, BASS

GLORIAE DEI CANTORES CHOIR

SYMPHONY NO. 9  |  LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

Vienna. May 7, 1824. The Kärntnertortheater was packed. It had been twelve long years since Beethoven’s last symphony premiere and people couldn’t wait to hear his Ninth – featuring Vienna’s best soloists, a spectacular chorus and the largest orchestra the composer had ever assembled. Michael Umlauf was the official conductor. Beethoven’s last attempt to conduct an orchestra had been disastrous. You see, the great composer was now completely deaf. On this day, he was only to give the tempos at the beginning of every part. At the end of the scherzo, the audience broke into wild applause. But, Beethoven couldn’t hear it. Finally, one of the soloists gently turned him toward the audience to receive their approval. It was then they realized how profoundly deaf he was. For the rest of the night, they waved their hands, hats and handkerchiefs in the air and rose for five ovations to praise the miraculous work.

The story of the premiere gives us goose bumps. How Beethoven got to this point is an equally amazing story we’ll share with you through anecdotes, videos and live musical examples with the orchestra. Then you’ll hear what Beethoven never did. The greatest feel-good symphony of all time. Beethoven’s Ninth: the Choral Symphony.

Mozart