Concert Report:

Beethoven’s 9th symphony by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOjHhS5MtvA&t=1s

For this report, I chose Beethoven's 9th Symphony, played by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra,
having a duration of 1 hour 20 minutes. This magnificent piece of music was composed between
1822 and 1824 and first performed in Vienna on May 7, 1824, by the legendary Beethoven, a
German composer, and pianist. He has been regarded as one of the most famous composers in
Western music history; his compositions are among the most often played in the classical music
canon, spanning the transition from the Classical to the Romantic periods. The Symphony in
hand exhibits elements of the Romantic era, meaning that Beethoven was a revolutionary
composer.

This performance, in particular, was orchestrated by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 2015 at
the Orchestra Hall, Chicago. The orchestra was led by Riccardo Muti, an Italian maestro. Muti
became the 10th Music Director of the orchestra in 2010, having more than 40 years of expertise,
two Grammy Awards, and 20 honorable mentions from distinguished universities.

One of the aspects that made this piece distinctive is the inclusion of chorals into a classical
symphony, which is an unusual element to be included at the time. It was the first live example
of a significant composer inserting chorals and voices into a symphony or a music piece. The
words of the Symphony were taken from Friedrich Schiller's poem 'Ode to Joy, with some
additions by Beethoven. Additionally, Beethoven's 9th Symphony was composed of four
movements: Allegro ma non-troppo, Un Poco maestoso, Molto vivace, Adagio molto e cantabile,
e Finale (Ode to Joy).
This piece is also regarded as the most outstanding Symphony Beethoven ever created and
composed; in other words, it is the summit of his achievements. According to John Suchet, a
classical FM composer, "the ninth is the culmination of Beethoven's genius." This piece
celebrated all his experience, expertise, and knowledge. Yet, the sad truth is that Beethoven
himself never heard it because he was deaf at the time.
Before they started playing, all the orchestra was seated; the men wore classic tuxedos, women
wore maxi black dresses, and the choir also wore black attires, except for the two women who
were the leading soprano voices. In addition, the instruments used in this performance varied
from strings, brass, and woodwinds, such as Piccolo, Flutes, Clarinets, Bassoons, Oboes, Horns,
Trumpets, Trombones, Timpani and Bass Drum.

Moreover, despite the loudness rising throughout the chorus, the performance employs a jazz
beat that carries through the whole performance. Throughout the undertaking, the performance
dynamics shift from a more soft sound to a medium and less loud sound. The increase of the
sound indicates that the mood is both harmonious, calm, and joyous. The 9th Symphony was
harmonic and employed consonance to please the audience, a blend of sounds of various
frequencies that are nevertheless pleasant to the ear.

The harmony of all performers is the show's distinguishing feature. They were perfectly in sync,
and not a single tune hindered the performance. I believe they went through rigorous training, the
chorus in specific for them to master each part while synchronizing with the rest of the orchestra
the way we saw they did. The performance is possibly among the greatest I've ever seen in
classical music.

The piece ended with an acceleration of the Ode to Joy tune. Hence, music had a particular style
throughout the classical period. The melody of that period's music tended to be in straight form.
The piece is typically accompanied by an accompanying section reflecting classical music
characteristics. Although Beethoven's music is primarily classical, he is very much at the start of
the romantic period. Unlike most classical music, in the fourth movement, you can detect passion
in the melody, which corresponds to the romantic period. The piece's vast range of dynamics and
tempos provides the impression of a wide range of emotions.

To conclude, I enjoyed this piece very much. I felt happy to listen to one of the greatest
orchestras playing one of the best-written compositions of all time. Everything about the
performance was perfect; the maestro, instrumentalists, and choir were all in sync. The way they
shifted from one classical piece to another was the most exciting part of the entire presentation.
I'm delighted I learned a lot during the concert since it was one of the most unison performances
I've ever seen. Additionally, I valued Beethoven even more, he was a true artist, and he indeed is
a genius. I want to end my report with a saying by John Suchet, a classical FM composer, and
Beethoven expert, "It is the longest and most complex of all his symphonies, which we may
regard as the pinnacle of his achievement because it is his last symphony."

External Sources:
https://theprofessorshub.com/concert-report-beethoven-9-chicago-symphony-orchestra/
https://www.classicfm.com/composers/beethoven/music/symphony-no-9-d-minor/