Nine Beethoven Symphonies. Symphony No. 9 op. 125 in D minor

The Beethoven symphony cycle marks the culmination of Claudio Abbado's relationship with the Berlin Philharmonic and twelve years as its principal conductor.

The first recording of the cycle was the Symphony No. 9, Op. 125, in D minor in 2000. It was performed in the Berlin Philharmonic, one of the most famous concert halls in the world. A few months later, Ludwig Beethoven's eight symphonies were recorded in Rome, in the hall of the ancient Accademia di Santa Cecilia in 2001. Shortly thereafter, in 2002, Claudio Abbado left his post as principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic.

The Symphony No. 9, Op. 125, in D minor, a choral symphony and the last completed by Ludwig van Beethoven, took two years to complete. It is considered one of the most frequently performed symphonies in the world.

As early as the early 1790s, the composer dreamed of setting Friedrich Schiller's entire Ode to Joy to music. However, he made the decision to include a word in the finale of the symphony after much hesitation.

Beethoven received an order for the Symphony from the London Symphony Society. It was dedicated to the King of Prussia Friedrich Wilhelm III, a hero of the national liberation struggle of the German principalities against Napoleon. Its premiere took place on May 7, 1824, at Beethoven's next author's concert in Vienna. The composer, already completely deaf, stood at the conductor's stand himself.

Symphony No. 9, Op. 125, D minor

Performers:

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor – Claudio Abbado

Swedish Radio Choir

Erik Ericson Chamber Choir

Chorus Master – Tõnu Kaljuste

Soloists:

Karita Mattila

Violeta Urmana

Thomas Moser

Eike Wilm Schulte

Berlin Philharmonic, Berlin, Germany, 2000