»Götterfunken!«

Ludwig van Beethoven
, Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125

“Friends, not these sounds,” reads Friedrich Schiller’s “ Ode to Joy” —a line that, of course, did not refer to the music itself, but rather to the disharmony between people, peoples, and nations. And this is precisely how Ludwig van Beethoven likely understood his “Ninth” as an appeal to a Europe that was divided at the time, when he set Schiller’s text to music in the final movement of his Ninth Symphony, selectively adapting it to his own vision: “Be embraced, millions!” In doing so, he broke with the orchestral form of the symphonic genre to create a vocal-symphonic work. An unconventional move! Yet this unconventionality was part of Beethoven’s character—without it, we would not be able to enjoy this magnificent piece of cultural history today! Under the musical direction of Chief Conductor Vassilis Christopoulos, the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra, the Graz Opera Chorus and Extra Chorus, and the voices of ensemble members Neira Muhić and Wilfried Zelinka—joined by Marjukka Tepponen and Jörg Schneider— the latter two also visiting Graz at the same time for rehearsals for the new production of Strauss’s Elektra.
Music transcends the boundaries of the stage …