Beethoven, Bayreuth, Bernstein and Brexit: 200 years of the Ninth Symphony | International Anthony Burgess Foundation
Jun 11, 2024 (UTC+0)
Manchester
Celebrate the 200th anniversary of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony at the upcoming event, "Beethoven, Bayreuth, Bernstein and Brexit: 200 years of the Ninth Symphony." This symphony, considered one of Beethoven's greatest works, has left an indelible mark on the world of music. Its ground-breaking final movement, featuring Schiller's famous "Ode to Joy," has become globally recognized, even by those who have never heard it in its original form. The melody has been featured in numerous films, video games, children's books, and TV adverts, reaching millions of people worldwide.
Beyond its influence in popular culture, this symphony holds immense significance in European history and politics. Richard Wagner conducted the Ninth Symphony to commemorate the foundation stone of the Bayreuth Festspielhaus in 1872, and later, his descendants chose it to reopen the same theater in 1951 as a way to distance themselves from the Nazi Party. In a momentous occasion, Leonard Bernstein conducted the symphony in Berlin on Christmas Day 1989 to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The symphony's impact extends even further, as the "Ode to Joy" was adopted as the European anthem by both the Council of Europe and the European Union starting in 1972. However, it has also been the subject of controversy, such as when Nigel Farage's Brexit MEPs turned their backs on an arrangement of Beethoven's melody during a session at the European Parliament in 2019.
Join conductor, writer, and lecturer Michael Downes as he explores these significant performances and delves into the motivations behind programming this iconic work. Downes, known for his expertise in opera, has studied and written extensively on music and is well-versed in the works of composers like Wagner and Elgar. This event promises to be a thought-provoking exploration of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and its enduring legacy. Don't miss out on this exceptional opportunity to deepen your understanding of classical music's rich history.
The event will take place on June 11, 2024, at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation in Manchester. Tickets are priced at £16.96.