HK PHIL × HKU MUSE: The Night of the Ninth

Introduction talk by Prof. Daniel Chua
The Consecration of the House Overture, Op. 124
Missa solemnis in D major, Op. 123 (excerpts)
Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125: Finale

Celebrating Beethoven

This programme commemorates the 200^th anniversary of Beethoven’s death (March 1827). It recreates the historic concert heard in Vienna on 7 May 1824, when Beethoven unveiled his Ninth Symphony to the world at the Theater am Kärntnertor. Join us for a journey back to the evening that reshaped the future of Western music: the concert opens with the majestic Consecration of the House Overture, continues with three movements from the Missa solemnis, and concludes with the beloved ‘Ode to Joy’ Finale from the Ninth Symphony, presented as they were on that historic night.

Together, these works form a rare portrait of Beethoven’s final creative decade, a period marked by increasing deafness, declining health, and political upheaval. Yet he reserved the triumphant ‘Ode to Joy’ for the finale of his last symphony, affirming that, even in adversity, we can still choose joy.

歌頌貝多芬

為紀念貝多芬逝世200周年（他於1827年3月病逝），本節目特意重現1824 年 5 月 7 日於維也納上演的歷史音樂會──貝多芬第九交響曲在卡恩特納托劇院首次問世。讓我們一同踏上回溯歷史之夜的旅程，依照當晚次序演出，音樂會以氣勢恢宏的《大樓獻禮》序曲揭幕，接着是《莊嚴彌撒曲》三個選段，最後以廣為傳頌的「歡樂頌」結束，體驗這個改寫西方音樂未來的一夜。

這三首曲目皆寫於貝多芬聽力日漸衰退、健康每況愈下之時，且身處政局動盪的年代，共同勾勒出作曲家創作生涯最後十年的珍貴面貌。然而，他仍在最後一部交響曲的終章寫下「歡樂頌」，藉此宣示：無論身處何境，終可選擇歡樂！

James Sherlock, conductor
Lucy Crowe, soprano
Jess Dandy, contralto
Thomas Atkins, tenor
William Thomas, bass
Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
Hong Kong Philharmonic Chorus
HKU Chamber Singers

Prof. Daniel Chua, speaker

$520, 400, 280

• For ages 6+
• Ticketing details on hkphil.org

• Patrons under the age of 6 will not be admitted.
• The programme is approximately 2 hours including an intermission.
• Guests are advised to arrive punctually.
• Latecomers and guests who leave their seats during the performance will be admitted at a suitable break or during intermission to avoid disturbance to the artists and other audience members.
• Programmes and artists are subject to change.
• The presenter reserves the right to make final decisions on the seating arrangement, to deny entry, as well as all rights of final arbitration in case of dispute.