September 2020
Repertoire
L. van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, Op. 125
Performers
Marta Mathéu, soprano
Tànit Bono, mezzosoprano
Marc Sala, tenor
Josep-Ramon Olivé, baritone
Orfeó Català
Orquestra Simfònica Camera Musicae
Tomàs Grau, conductor
Programme notes
BROTHERS, LET US REJOICE!
Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony has been the star of important moments in history. The commemoration of the fall of the Berlin wall, or the acts of proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic with Pau Casals at the head, are some of the events where it has been publicly performed. It is not surprising that since 1985 an arrangement by Herbert von Karajan has been the official anthem of the European Union and that in 2003 the score was declared a World Heritage Site.
Musically, Beethoven’s last symphony is full of novelties for its time, a fact that makes it a revolutionary, modern and fully romantic work. It is much more extensive than his previous symphonies, and we can find unusual instruments in the orchestration, such as the piccolo, the contrabassoon, the bass trombone and the triangle. However, the great revolution is in the 4th movement: apart from an innovative introduction by percussion, the end of this work includes a choral part with Friedrich von Schiller’s poem Ode to Joy.
After the interpretation of the eight previous symphonies, the OCM begins the season together with the Orfeó Català to celebrate ‘Beethoven Year‘ with one of the most important works in the history of music. An exaltation of fraternity among the peoples of the world, now more valid than ever.
You millions, I embrace you. This kiss is for all the world!
Biography Orfeó Català
Orfeó Català is one of the country’s leading amateur choirs with almost 130 years of history. It was founded in 1891 by Lluís Millet and Amadeu Vives to spread the Catalan and universal choral repertoire to the highest artistic excellence. Throughout its history, the choir has been conducted by Lluís Millet i Pagès (1891-1941), Francesc Pujol i Pons (1941-1945), Lluís Maria Millet i Millet (1945-1977), Lluís Millet i Loras (1977 -1981), Simon Johnson (1981-1983 and 1985-1988), Salvador Mas (1983-1985), Jordi Casas Bayer (1988-1998) and Josep Vila i Casañas (1998-2015). Simon Halsey (2015-) is the current artistic director, Pablo Larraz is the principal conductor and Pau Casan is the pianist. The choir is based at the Palau de la Música Catalana.
The Orfeó Català has performed the most representative works of the choral repertoire, such as the Bach Mass in B minor and Haydn’s Stations and has starred at the most important performances in our country. It has been conducted by the top international batons: R. Strauss, C. Saint-Saëns, P. Casals, Z. Mehta, F. Brüggen, M. Rostropovich, Ch. Dutoit, L. Maazel, D. Barenboim, S. Rattle and G. Dudamel, among others. In recent years the choir has debuted at the Konzerthaus in Vienna and at the Sala Gulbenkian in Lisbon, has headlined a tour of Italy with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, conducted by D. Gatti, and has performed in London twice, in 2015 at the Royal Festival Hall and in 2017 at the Royal Albert Hall, debuting at the Proms.