Beethoven’s famous Ninth Symphony coming to Oman this weekend

Muscat: Ludwig van Beethoven’s last great masterpiece is coming to the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) only for one night this Friday, September 13.

The piece, Symphony No 9 in D minor, Op 125, is widely considered as a cornerstone in the history of Western Music. The piece also acts as a stylistic bridge between the Classical and Romantic eras in music.

The Symphony is structured in four movements building up to a glorious finale.

Beethoven adapted the finale of the symphony from 'Ode to Joy', a poem written in 1785 by the famous German philosopher and historian Friedrich Schiller.

The poet described joy as a “beautiful spark of divinity”, and spoke rapturously of the brotherhood of joyful heroes and portrayed God as “embracing all the world from above the starry canopy”.

Beethoven created a complex work marked by magnificence and grandeur by expressing musically his passion for the noble ideals of his time.

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony premiered in 1824 and became a powerful call for freedom and universal brotherhood.

In the late twentieth century, the musical theme of 'Ode to Joy' was adopted as the anthem of the European Union, attesting to the stature of Beethoven’s compelling Ninth Symphony.

Tenor, conductor, composer and multi-talented artist, Argentinean luminary José Cura is acclaimed for his original interpretations of opera characters, as well as for his innovative orchestral direction.

He will lead the Orchestra and Choir of Teatro Colón Buenos Aires, South America’s finest theatre.

The four voices featured in this version of Ode to Joy are that of soprano Daniela Tabernig, alto Alejandra Malvino, tenor Gustavo López Manzitti and bass, Emiliano Bulacios.