The “Opera at the Square” festival will come to a grand close with a performance of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth symphony. Tickets sold out in days long ago and this is no coincidence.
Conductor will be the world-famous maestro Daniel Oren dubbed the stars’ favorite conductor. He is the musical director of “Arena di Verona”: one of the most famous opera festivals.
Vocals: Violeta Radomirska (mezzo-soprano) and Jessica Pratt (soprano); the latter impresses with her “brilliant voice, her calm and freely sung highs and her lyrical grace” according to “New York Times”.
We will also see Gregory Kunde (tenor) perform on the stage in front of the “St. Alexander Nevsky” cathedral; he is considered to be one of the most elegant and accomplished bel canto singers in opera today. With the participation of Alexandar Vinogradov (bass) who debuted on the Bolshoi theater stage as a student when he was barely 21 years old.
The performance of Beethoven’s final symphony is dedicated to the 240th anniversary of the creation of “Ode to Joy” by Friedrich Schiller.
Symphony № 9 in re minor, also known as the “Choir Symphony” is German composer Ludwig van Beethoven’s last complete symphony. Finished in 1824, it is one of the most popular classical music pieces.
Many critics define it as one of Beethoven’s masterpieces and as one of the most important compositions in history. It was first performed on the 7th of May, 1824, in Vienna.
Symphony № 9 is the first example of a symphony by a famous composer which uses vocal elements and sets the beginning of the choir symphony genre. It combines the most notable characteristics of Beethoven’s mature style and at the same time it looks forward to the era of romanticism which had already begun during that time period.
The symphony’s fourth part contains a choir performance and four lead singers performing an adaption of Friedrich Schiller’s poem “Ode to Joy”.
In 1972, a segment from this part of the symphony became the official hymn of Europe.