Beethoven 250 | Symphony Series 09: THE HANOVER BAND - BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9 in D minor, ‘Choral’

Beethoven 250 | Symphony Series 09: THE HANOVER BAND - BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op.125 ‘Choral’

The Hanover Band plays Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 as the culmination of their Beethoven 250 celebrations at Mansion House in the City of London. Premiering on the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, 16th December 2020.

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Conductor: Sir Mark Elder
Leader: Jorge Jimenez

Soprano: Sophie Bevan
Alto: Madeleine Shaw
Tenor: Ed Lyon
Bass: Darren Jeffery

with The Hanover Band Chorus

Beethoven accepted the commission to write a new symphony for the Philharmonic Society of London; in a letter he wrote to Ferdinand Ries on 20 December 1822, ‘Even though the fee to be paid by the English cannot be compared with the fees paid by other nations’. The work was completed by February 1824 and, according to Beethoven’s correspondence, the copying of the parts and several scores was in progress by April 1824. The Ninth Symphony was first performed at a benefit concert in Vienna at the Kärntnertortheater on 7 May 1824 and repeated on 23 May 1824, receiving a tumultuous reception.

The score was sent to Mr Neate of the Philharmonic Society, London, in December 1824. Beethoven gave some hints on rehearsal: ‘You must have limited rehearsals, perhaps four parts at a time; for this is the only way to study such a work well; above all the choruses must be well practised!’ He also mentioned that there were still some errors in the score. The Symphony was first performed in England at a Philharmonic Society concert on 21 March 1825, which was held at the New Argyll Rooms and was conducted by Sir George Smart. He was very anxious about the performance and had previously urged the Society to induce Beethoven to come to London to conduct the work himself.

In the event, the composer’s deteriorating health prevented his coming and Smart had to do the best he could. He wrote, ‘I candidly own that I do not understand his [Beethoven’s] meaning as to the style of the Recitative for the Basses–perhaps it should be played faster’. Similar discussions about the complexity of the work must have taken place, as they still do today. The Symphony was published by Schott of Mainz in August 1826, with a dedication to Friedrich Wilhelm III, King of Prussia. On 18 March 1827, just eight days before his death, Beethoven sent a letter (in Schindler’s hand) thanking the Philharmonic Society for their generous donation of £100 which they had sent in order that it might ‘be applied to his comforts and necessities during his illness’. He enclosed in this letter a list of metronome markings relating to the Ninth Symphony.
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BEETHOVEN 250 - An online festival of Beethoven’s Symphonic and Chamber Music brought to you by The Hanover Band & Consone Quartet.

For further information and to make a donation to help us continue our work, please visit https://thehanoverband.com/
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Видео Beethoven 250 | Symphony Series 09: THE HANOVER BAND - BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9 in D minor, ‘Choral’ канала The Hanover Band