The 9th

(No Other Title Needed)

Yes class, it’s culture time again!

Oh no Donny! Not another Art Museum! We’re tired of all that Andrew Wyeth stuff! Why can’t you just take us to another beach or mountain?

Well class, it’s simple. You all get to go where we go, and soon enough, we’ll all be on that 51-Day Cruise around South America so be patient those beaches and mountains (and lots of penguins!) are soon to come, but a few nights ago we attended the Houston Symphony.

No! Not that! We hate classical music! Why didn’t you go to an Adele or Michael Bublé concert?

It was because the Houston Symphony had a One Night Only presentation of one of the finest pieces ever written, directed by one of the worlds’ most renowned Conductors.

Oh…. well then…… that’s a little different, maybe we can sit still for a while and listen. Hey! It better not be Opera! Can we at least get some popcorn?

(Sigh…..)

As most of you already know, I drag you guys to the occasional Art Museum, especially when it has something to do with Andrew Wyeth.

Today we are going somewhere different albeit just as cultural. Instead of filling your eyes with scrumptious art, we will be filling your ears with incredible sounds. And you know how this goes, we don’t just settle for just any run-of-the-mill, mundane audio clips, we head directly to the top, the pinnacle of the category, we visit a Symphony!

Now before you just click off because Classical Music is not your thing, I beg of you, just hear me out as I am sure that this will bring a smile not only to your ears, but to your face as well!

This is a Promise.

The other night we went into Houston to hear The Houston Symphony present what is definitely one of the most famous works by any composer, Beethoven’s 9^th Symphony. It was performed flawlessly by the Symphony Members and was guest-conducted by Micheal Tilson Thomas, a world-renowned luminary in this genre. He is now 80 years old, and he conducted like he was still in his younger years. This was a One-Night Only Performance and Houston Symphony’s home venue, the Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, was filled to the rafters.

Beethoven was deaf by the time he composed this masterpiece, and you may have other favorite compositions by him or any other composer, but there is no denying that his 9^th Symphony ranks as far up the scale as anyone’s. Especially when you single out the 4^th and final movement of this hour-plus long masterpiece. The choir sits patiently through the first three movements as do the four soloists. The fourth movement starts off with a very recognizable introduction and then teases us with little snippets of what is to come.

The performance that night was both thrilling and magnificent. But there comes a time though when one needs to admit that there may be something better. Perhaps better is a poor choice of words because that diminishes the current item. Possibly different, on a loftier scale, would best describe my analogy here. There is nothing like hearing a piece of music conducted and performed in its original habitat. Yes, like a living, breathing being, pieces of music have homes, and these homes are where they should be, where they began, where they were written. For example, is there anything better than hearing Arthur Fiedler conduct the Boston Pops giving us Stars and Stripes Forever?

            I doubt it.

In that vein we must admit that Ludwig von Beethoven’s Symphony #9 might best be administered by the Berlin Philharmonic and conducted by the one person who will forever be linked to it, Herbert von Karajan.

            The Master.

So, if you have 23 minutes or so I highly recommend this recording and film (not video as it is from 1968) of the Berlin Philharmonic under the direction of Herbert von Karajan presenting the 4^th movement (Ode to Joy) in its entirety. Well worth twenty-three minutes of your time, even if you listen while doing something else.

This is where my “Promise” to you comes in…. it is Impossible to listen to “Ode to Joy” without a smile coming to your face!

Just Google:

Beethoven symphony 9, 4th movement, Conductor (Herbert Von Karajan) ,Ode to joy.

(Just copy and paste into Google)

On the right side of the page, you should see a larger intro into this. This is the 4^th movement only, the 23 minute one.

If…. You don’t have 23 minutes and can spare just a few, here is where you can listen and see about three minutes of the most exciting part of it.

Just Google:

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 / Karajan · Berliner Philharmoniker

          Scroll down until you see the one that is 3:02 minutes long.

          Tip: These are best when you have the guts to turn your volume up… way up!

I promise you that it is worth your time!

Traveling around like we do affords us chances like this. As great as the Berlin Philharmonic is, we had the opportunity to attend that same performance in Houston, in person. Just as in sports, there is nothing like actually witnessing a world class performance of an athlete, or a renowned orchestra, or a Broadway show, or a High School production, and even a small local theater group.

                   Whatever it is, and whenever you can, do it in person, support what makes you happy and you will be doubly rewarded.

                   Thanks for hanging in to this point, I promise that Travel Related Posts are on their way as we only have fifteen more days until embarkation!