Beethoven - Symphony No. 9 (Daniel Barenboim & the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra)

From the Philharmonie Berlin, Summer 2006,
Daniel Barenboim and West-Eastern Divan perform Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.

Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, "Chorale"
0:00 Entrance
1:00 I. Allegro ma non troppo un poco maestoso
18:26 II. Molto vivace
30:32 III. Adagio molto e cantabile
48:09 IV. Presto "Ode to Joy"

Eastern Divan Orchestra
Daniel Barenboim - conductor

About West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

A miracle, one would in light of the Middle East conflicts believe: the worldwide respected West-Eastern Divan Orchestra is made up of young musicians from Israel, Palestine, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, and Spain. The proceeds from this benefit concert will go to the Fundación Barenboim-Said and their music education programs in the Palestinian territories.
This performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony was the highlight of the West-Eastern Divan's summer tour 2006 with Daniel Barenboim and the concert at the Berlin Philharmonic, which featured acclaimed singers such as Angelika Denoke, Burkhardt Fritz, Waltraud Meier and René Pape.

[goatmanedits]

I don't understand how it's possible to get through the development of this 1st movement without breaking down in tears.

[autumnleaves]

Beethoven's 9th Symphony conducted by Daniel Barenboim and performed by the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, what a way to welcome in this Thursday morning in the UK after a stormy night in which I could not sleep. I could listen to this great symphony a thousand times and never grow tired of it. Same goes for the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th symphonies too. Beethoven is the gift that keeps on giving, a composer whose work I was exposed to early in life, helped by one of my older siblings who loves his music too and has an advanced knowledge of his compositional techniques and life. Beethoven is a lifelong friend who will never let you down. I love the piano sonatas too and much of the other chamber music, and not forgetting the Diabelli Variations and "Fidelio". Beethoven had so much adversity in life and somehow he overcame it all and left us his most amazing compositions for all eternity. This is a superb performance by the young men and women of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra under the baton of the living legend that is Daniel Barenboim, a man who deserves the Nobel Prize.

[gobackspaces]

At 50:19 the cellist looks DIRECTLY at the camera and smiles. Priceless!

[zuzannawisniewska]

Deutsche composer, Argetina conductor, orchestra and universal language...the music is life....

[iskandarsadira]

imagine if instead of the conductor there was Beethoven... I have no words, only tears 😢😢😢😢

[yousoupof]

Le West-Eastern Divan Orchestra (« Orchestre du Divan occidental-oriental ») est un orchestre symphonique fondé en 1999 par Daniel Barenboim, qui a la particularité de réunir chaque été environ 80 jeunes instrumentistes d'Israël, des États arabes voisins (Syrie, Liban, Égypte, Jordanie), qui viennent en Europe se former et jouer ensemble

[shin-i-chikozima]

Beethoven is the stronghold of my soul

[wolfgangamadeusmozart]

To praise joy despite a life with so many pains, including knowing that you are losing your hearing that is the worst curse for a musician (And Beethoven was already deaf when he wrote the ninth and most of the greatest masterpieces he gave to music) is not something that a normal composer could have done.
It is true that the ode to joy was a commission, but Beethoven knew he was talking to everybody us, and so he didn't wrote just a Symphony, he wrote a masterpiece. Finding the courage to continue writing, to continue dreaming despite so many broken dreams like the one of being a father and having a family it's not for ordinary men.
Beethoven could do it, because Beethoven defied fate as he himself said, and continued to hold it in his hand until his death.
The ninth is the Symphony of all of us, Beethoven could only hear it in his head, so he wrote it only for all of us: mankind. The ninth is the Symphony of free men, of men who live as brothers, of men who have the courage to suffer and to get up again.
Rest in peace Ludwig, you will always be not only one of the greatest composers, you will always be the greatest hero in the history of music.

[Mauro_B._Vieira.]

That entirely deaf composer whose legacy is a pleasurable life plenty of sounds able to open gates of heaven for so many generations since then.

[zuzannawisniewska]

No matter how many times I listen to this, I never get tired of it...

[THEFORBIDDENMAN-lkof]

WITH RESPECT - THANK YOU BEETHOVEN FOR YOUR MUSIC, WE ARE STILL LUCKY ENOUGH TO ENJOY IT ALL THESE YEARS AFTER YOU DEMISE

[galyapyasetsky]

Thank you, dear Maestro Daniel Barenboim, that you
give the opportunity today to watch and hear the great performance of Beethoven’s Symphony 9 on Christmas Day,
conducting the Orchestra you created so skilfully.
Today Christians in the Western world celebrate Christmas, which represents the birth of something bright and joyful.
Although I am not a Christian, I consider this holiday important for all people. At Christmas people celebrate the bright hope, joy, and peace, that comes into the world.
These thoughts the genius of Beethoven include in his great
music of Symphony 9. Nowadays when there are wars
In the world the performing of Beethoven’s Symphony 9
has special meaning and importance.
So once again I would say many thanks to you, Dear Maestro Daniel Barenboim, at this special day
for your great work that allow people to enjoy great music
which awakens in their souls hope for peace and friendship
between all people of all nationalities.

[jeffreylefaucheur]

Daniel Barenboim envisages as a true replacement as one of the greatest conductor ever.

[gero]

A true celebration of beauty, goodness, music, art, humanity.

[annedwyer]

The Ninth is so profound! The opening of the 1st movement always makes me think of the Universe forming from swirling clouds of gas, and then it builds until the Big Bang occurs...it's the symphony of symphonies. Last year I was fortunate to attended the Dallas Symphony's performance of the Ninth, a true once-in-a-lifetime experience.

[lynndavid]

Mr Barenboim looked so pleased and so proud conducting those very talented musicians, and rightly so.

[gnxetsg]

Неперевершено в усіх відношеннях: геній - автора, дерижера, оркестру. Браво!!!
🇺🇦💯‼️

[beejjackson]

My goodness. The fact that a human being conceived and composed this work, and that to this day musicians struggle for a lifetime to gain the skills to perform it, and that audiences gather regularly all over the world to hear it, all serve to confirm my faith in my species and our capacity to unite to accomplish great things. Gott segne dich immer, Herr Beethoven! My deepest gratitude to the conductor and the ensemble.

[barney]

This orchestra is superb. Wonderfully led by a true maestro. After 200 years Beethoven's 9th is finally beginning to open up and start to display its full blossom. With brilliant talent like this, our beloved LvB is in good hands for the future. In another 100 years this piece will be even better, and again with each century. We can thank and praise his faithfulness to our Lord God in Christ that Beethoven turned into the wind and showed us what "growing a pair" against adversity can produce. A remarkable man.

[jy__]

when the orchestra bursts into the hymns of joy at 1:02:46, it always gives me goosebumps.