Beethoven's 9th Symphony at Arena di Verona Opera Festival 2024
Verona, Arena di Verona
About the Event
Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, with its choral 'Ode to Joy', is among the most famous works in the classical music repertoire. Experience a performance of this musical monument to peace and freedom in the wonderful setting of the Arena di Verona.
Beethoven's Symphony no. 9, one of the most frequently performed in the classical canon, evolved out of two separate works – a symphony with a final choral movement, and an instrumental composition in D minor. For almost ten years the composer worked on the two works before finally deciding to merge them into one monumental piece, with the addition of the text from Friedrich Schiller's poem 'Ode to Joy'. The final movement is called 'a symphony within a symphony' by some critics. At 24 minutes duration, the movement is longer than some complete symphonies of the Classical period, and follows the traditional four‐movement symphonic form.
Beethoven's final symphony, it is the composer's first to include a vocal element. The 9th premiered in 1824 in Vienna's Theater am Kärntnertor, performed by the largest orchestra ever assembled by Beethoven. It received standing ovations, establishing it as an immediate success, and one of Beethoven’s greatest works!
Practical Information
Included are:
- Ticket to the opera performance in the chosen category
- One month's free access to a premium classical music streaming service
- self‐guided audio tour of Verona in English
Program
- Ludwig van Beethoven – Sinfonie Nr. 9
Arena di Verona
The Arena di Verona is the third largest Roman amphitheatre still standing. Built around 30 AD, the Arena is also among the best-preserved amphitheatres of the period. Its gigantic dimensions (140 meters long and 100 meters wide), and seating for over 30,000 spectators, ensure it dominates the northern part of Piazza Bra. Excellent acoustics and a fabulous location make it an ideal venue for large-scale opera performances. The monument was re-established as a theatre during the Renaissance, and in 1913 the tradition of opera at the Arena di Verona began with a production of Giuseppe Verdi's 'Aida'.
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German pianist and composer of the late 18th century. He is well known as the most influential composers of all time as well as crucial figure to the Classical music scene. In fact, he demonstrated his musical talent at an early age, taking lessons from his father and composer/conductor Christian Gottlob Neefe. Later, he moved to Vienna where he gained the reputation of a virtuoso pianist by composing his popular masterpieces. He created his most admired works in his last 15 years of life, all the while being almost completely deaf.
Address
Arena di Verona, Piazza Bra 28, Verona, Italy — Google Maps
