Orchestre des Champs-Élysées

Uniting the vocal and orchestral forces of which he is the artistic soul, Philippe Herreweghe celebrates brotherhood with Beethoven's symphony inspired by Schiller's Ode to Joy and the manifesto oratorio Against War by the Austrian Hanns Eisler.

Attending a performance of Beethoven's Ninth is always a marvel, especially under the direction of Philippe Herreweghe: a meticulous attention to detail, sculpted in every line, a strong empathy with the voice, born from an initial practice as a choir conductor, a mastery of architecture, honed through exposure to great Baroque frescoes, and a disposition towards spirituality, nourished by a regular engagement with the sacred repertoire. In the preamble, Against War, composed at the dawn of World War I, is the first of Eisler's pacifist works, whose admiration for Beethoven was closely intertwined with his Marxist convictions. It is an opportunity to discover the lesser-known music of this student of Schönberg, a committed artist and prolific author.

Program and cast

Duration: Approximately 1h20

Orchestre des Champs-Élysées
Collegium Vocale Gent
Philippe Herreweghe, conductor
Eleanor Lyons, soprano
Sophie Harmsen, mezzo-soprano
Benjamin Hulett, tenor
Johannes Kammler, baritone

Programme
Hanns Eisler
Against War

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 9 "Ode to Joy"