Bringing together Israeli, Palestinian, Middle Eastern, and Spanish musicians in the name of peace and cross-cultural understanding, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra perfectly embodies one of the most resonant verses of Friedrich von Schiller’s immortal poem Ode to Joy, set to music by Beethoven in 1824. With its monumental structure, revolutionary use of choirs and soloists, and extreme tempo changes, Beethoven’s Ninth established a Romantic symphonic language that would inspire generations of successors, including Brahms, Mahler, and Bruckner.
Runtime: 1 hr. & 17 mins.