Program:
L. v. Beethoven (1770–1827):
Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 (1824)
Conductor: Johannes Gustavsson
Chorus: Singers from the Norwegian Youth Choir and friends
Soloists:
Tenor: Marcus Bjørlykke
Bass: Magnus Dorholt Kjeldal
Alto: Astrid Nordstad
Soprano: Eldrid Gorset
2026 marks Johannes Gustavsson’s final season as artistic director of the Youth Symphony Orchestra, and he’s celebrating with a real party! Beethoven’s iconic Ninth Symphony celebrates joy, peace, and brotherhood!
The symphony has inspired many of the great symphonies that followed and has been featured in films such as *A Clockwork Orange* (1962) and *Dead Poets Society* (1989). The main theme of the grand finale, with lyrics from Friedrich von Schiller’s 1785 poem “Ode to Joy,” is used today in the European anthem (Europe’s national anthem).
The symphony was groundbreaking in its time in several ways: the orchestra was nearly twice the size of what was customary, and at over an hour in length, the symphony was also significantly longer than the standard. In the final movement, Beethoven incorporates both a choir and soloists into a genre that had previously been purely instrumental; additionally, he reverses the order of the slow movement (usually the second) and the Scherzo (the lively movement that normally came before the finale).
It is said that the audience gave Beethoven a standing ovation five times during the premiere in Vienna; they waved handkerchiefs, hats, and hands in the air so that Beethoven—who, as they knew, could not hear the applause—could at least see the cheers.
