Beethoven 9

The evening begins with Rossini’s Overture to William Tell, a work defined by its distinct sections ranging from a serene opening for solo cellos to the high-energy gallop that concludes the piece. This is followed by Brahms’s Nänie, a setting of Friedrich Schiller’s poetry for choir and orchestra. The work serves as a lush, elegiac meditation on the fleeting nature of beauty, preparing the ground for the scale of the final work. The performance culminates in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, the ‘Choral’. You will hear the composer’s final symphonic statement, which begins with dark, mysterious textures and building rhythmic tension. In the fourth movement, the orchestra is joined by the choir and four soloists for the setting of the Ode to Joy. Listen for the moment the solo baritone interrupts the orchestral storm with a call for more agreeable sounds, leading into the world’s most famous musical celebration of human unity.

Adam Hickox leads the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, a London-based ensemble celebrated for its wide-reaching repertoire and international touring schedule. They are joined by a quartet of esteemed British soloists: soprano Lucy Crowe, mezzo-soprano Claire Barnett-Jones, tenor Ed Lyon, and bass-baritone Neal Davies. The orchestra is particularly known for its clarity and versatility, often appearing at major London concert halls. Under Hickox’s direction, these musicians bring together the vocal and instrumental forces required for this ambitious programme of late-Classical and Romantic staples.

This performance takes place at London’s Cadogan Hall and has a total running time of 130 minutes. The venue is an intimate setting for a symphony of this magnitude, offering a closer perspective on the vocalists and instrumentalists than a larger arena might. There is no specific dress code for this concert; standard smart-casual attire is typical for an evening event here. With its mix of a well-known overture and the landmark Beethoven symphony, the programme is highly suitable for first-time concertgoers looking for an accessible entry point into the choral-orchestral tradition.