Two-hundred years ago in 1817, the Philharmonic Society of London commissioned German pianist and composer Ludwig van Beethoven to write a symphony. While he started working on the piece in 1822, it was first performed in Vienna in 1824. That was Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, considered incredibly remarkable for its layered creativity, composed for an extended 80 minutes with the largest orchestra.
The symphony adds significance to Bengaluru in 2017 as the India National Youth Orchestra and Chorus — founded by Vijay Upadhyaya, the artistic director, and Sonia Khan managing director — is all set to present the Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in the city with 170 musicians and singers at the Chowdiah Memorial Hall on Monday, 7 p.m. “Yes, Ninth Symphony is a daring project attempted for the first time by the India National Youth Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Mr. Upadhyaya. This would not have been possible without the support of our partners, the Vienna University Orchestra, as the entire winds section is from there,” said Ms. Khan.
The popular symphony will bring in a 100-member orchestra, four soloists Payal John, Ankna Arockiam, Sandeep Gurrapadi and Jonas Olsson, and around 65 singers in the chorus. “All instruments planned specifically for this symphony are being used, which is why we had to get the Austrians to join us,” says Ms. Khan adding that the rarest instruments would be used in the orchestra.
Intensive workshops and rehearsal schedules went on at the United Theological College in preparation for this landmark event. But what made it easier for the group to take it up in India was the actual performance experience earlier. “A couple of months back, the Vienna University Orchestra and Choir conducted by Mr. Upadhyaya performed the symphony in Vienna, and that to a large extent made it easier to take it up here,” says Ms. Khan.
Friedrich Schiller’s Ode to Joy poem has been added for the concluding movement. “Beethoven included chorus and vocal soloists in the final movement and was the first major composer to do this,” according to Mr. Upadhyaya.
By the time the symphony was performed for the first time in Vienna on May 7, 1824 Beethoven was deaf. As the performance concluded, the composer, unable to hear the thundering applause, ‘saw’ the hands coming together for an encore. “Bengaluru’s Orchestra is a tribute to Beethoven,” said Ms. Khan.
