Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony no. 9 in D minor op. 125

Dima Slobodeniouk, conductor
Tuuli Lindeberg, soprano
Pihla Terttunen, alto
Matteo Desole, tenor
Arttu Kataja, baritone
Tapiola Sinfonietta
Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

Ludwig van Beethoven’s iconic Ninth Symphony will be performed at the Music Centre in Helsinki on the 200th anniversary – to the day – of its world premiere. This performance is a joint production by Finland’s two leading chamber orchestras, the Tapiola Sinfonietta and the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra. The chorus part will be performed by one of the world’s best-known choirs, the Grammy award winning Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, and the soloists will be from the top ranks of Finnish vocal talent. The conductor is Dima Slobodeniouk.

Culminating Beethoven’s career, the Ninth Symphony was given its first performance at the Theater am Kärtnertor in Vienna on 7 May 1824 to a jubilant reception. Lasting more than an hour, the work was something quite new for the audience of the day, an extrapolation of the symphonic form to unprecedented dimensions. In an added surprise, the finale introduced vocal soloists and a chorus, dispelling the notion of the symphony being a purely instrumental genre.

The symphony as a whole and the ‘Ode to Joy’ by Friedrich Schiller that Beethoven set in the finale – a poem very much in the spirit of the Enlightenment – are full of meanings and expectations. The famous tune of the finale was eventually adopted as the official anthem of the European Union, symbolising joy, love and brotherhood across all borders. This vision is to be recreated at the Music Centre as this wonderful artwork is once again brought to life.

The performance will be repeated at Kampushalli in Kokkola on 8 May 2024 at 19.00.

For more information, including ticket sales, please visit the Tapiola Sinfonietta website.