Ricardo Muti, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will be featured in the Facebook Premiere of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 on April 12 at 3:00 p.m. CDT. 

This Facebook Premiere is presented as part of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s season-long Beethoven 250 celebration, and as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic that has interrupted live concert performances around the world. The virtual concert experience of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 also offers music lovers an interactive commentary online throughout the event. The concert video will also remain available for on-demand streaming.

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony is widely recognized as one of music’s most powerful and inspiring works and culminates in the “Ode to Joy” finale. Recorded in 2014, the performance was initially released for on-demand streaming on May 7, 2015 in conjunction with the anniversary of the iconic work’s world premiere on May 7, 1824. The popular concert video has attracted more than 20 million views on channels since its original release date. Featured soloists in the 2014 performance include Camilla Nylund (soprano), Ekaterina Gubanova (mezzo-soprano), Matthew Polenzani (tenor) and Eric Owens (bass-baritone).

The CSO’s virtual concerts aren’t limited to the April 12 Facebook Premiere. The CSOA has shared a variety of expanded audio and video content in recent weeks, including a virtual concert to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the new CSO radio series—From the CSO’s Archives: Maestro’s Choice, presented in partnership with WFMT (Chicago’s Classical Music Station). Additionally, musicians are sharing personal video messages and these are being posted on the CSO’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube channels. More CSO digital content will continue to come online throughout Spring 2020, with updates posted regularly at a new landing page for CSO From Home.

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