Proms 2017 - Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 'Choral' [Xian Zhang, BBC NOW] 

Regarding the tempo here: a century of slower, more romantic interpretations of Beethoven have anachronistically affected our perception of his works. Though we often think of Beethoven as the first 'Romantic' composer, he was still working within the late Classical style of his time where musical tempos were typically faster than the standards we have today. If you think this is fast, try even faster performances by Gardiner or Norrington, the latter of whom uses Beethoven's exact metronome markings from the manuscript.

1- Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso 00:00 2- Molto Vivacce 14:46 3 -Adagio 26:40 4- Presto - Allegro ma non troppo - Vivace - Adagio cantabile - Allegro assai - Presto: O Freunde 39:14

50:23:-51:45 is my favorite bit of music ever composed. With the tools he had available to him at that time, he expressed all the varieties of human emotion and experience in this symphony. In this bit, however, I hear desperation and agitation. As the text preceding says: “Joyfully, brothers, run your race through life as the suns hurtle through the glorious universe, as a knight races toward his victory.” The ensuing double fugue is a triumphant and violent race through life, presumably envisioned as the knight racing towards that victory, whatever it may be. Everyone’s life is a mirror of that race, I believe. I suppose the “victory” is the great choral entrance on the main theme, “Freude Schöner Götterfunken”...oh what it would be like to have a coffee with the maestro and ask him what he felt writing this gloriously indecipherable passage. 😍🥰♥️

Live performances are like Jazz, there are no mistakes. The rapport between the conductor, orchestra, soloists and choir are the best I have ever seen. The tempo is 100% correct for that particular performance. At the end I just want to hug somebody out of sheer bliss and happiness. ALLE MENCHEN WERDEN BRÜDER!!!

Watching the way this is conducted and the conductor's body mentions and expressions is worth the price of admission

I wasn't sure about her interpretation to start with but, by the end, I was convinced. This was definitely the best performance I have heard - especially the choral contribution. Thanks for making it available. What a shame I didn't think to record it myself.

SInce the MASTER was deaf, and we do not know the tempo of the first performance, who are we to judge the tempo of any performance of this great work. Only Ludwig knows and he will not make false judgments, nor should we.

I actually like this tempo because of its fastness, you sense the urgency and how exciting it is to enjoy the holy joy. (May not be an accurate expression since English is not a mother tongue :))

Wonderful 9th Symphony of Beethoven, especially the Schlusschor with "Ode to Joy". A masterpiece the best of Made in Germany !!!

The look on the contra bassoon players face was classic during the march, he was totally swinging it.

This is a really fun interpretation. I like it!

That facial expression on the conductor's face at 51:57.... Just made my day!

Bravo toll und die deutsche Sprache einfach toll👍👍

😍BBC Proms at Royal Albert Hall.

If she were born in Changchun, Russian influence on her could be considered, but she was born in Dandong, a town on the border with North Korea. In this case, Russian influence was almost impossible. My linguist friend tweeted in such a way. In that case, we can only assume that Japan's modernization was behind her. However, such a genius was never born even in Tokyo, the center of Japanese modernisation, until now.　Rather than a cultural phenomenon, Ozawa seems to me to be just a souvenir for foreigners. It is a big mystery why such a genius was born in a marginal earea of Japanese modernization or where no european music traditon was presesent.

No question. Zhang Xian is the best Chinese conductor so far.

Who is here after "A Clockwork Orange" ?

It was the Age of Enlightenment, monarchies and the church were being given the boot. The feudal estates had broken up. Public education was producing more literate people than there had ever been, books and magazines were in homes, a small middle class was emerging. People felt they were clawing back a bit of happiness.

Probably Xian Zhang will be the first Chinese conductor who really can be worldwide acclaimed and hailed as a maestro in sense of artistic achievement in the art of conducting.

A fantastic and memorable night

I like the conductor. Her facial expression is easy to understand from the view point of the players. Moreover, BBC Orchestra has used foreigner conductors many times regardless of nationality. It makes me realise that BBC Orch shows the diversity. Amazing!!

I wasn't sure at the beginning if the orchestra fully understood her interpretation and if they were just going to do it for her. Although not smooth, I'm glad the conductor kept time.

great performance but damn it's annoying when the audience jumps in to applaud before the resonance of a final chord dies away - especially this ending, one of the most interesting and thought provoking endings in all of Beethoven

Liking how the soprano soloist's voice (59:40 on) fills the hall, without her even singing at her full volume.

why to comment..........just listen to a great music !!!!

The first WOMEN and CHINESE conductor to stand on this stage,brilliant performance

Fast tempo indeed, I liked it. But I like Barenboim's 2012 version a lot more, it's fast but not as fast as this one. And it had better soloists and the choir was amazing.

Cantor começa a correr em 49:36

I love fast tempos, but this interpretation is missing something, especially on the 1st movement.It's fast, but not too deep. I prefer 2012s Daniel Barenboim Version.

As far as tempo is concerned, it should be noted that at the premiere of this work, Beethoven himself was co-conducting and was still waving his hands when the performance ended (he was completely deaf by this time). The conductor (sorry, can't remember his name) had ordered the orchestra to ignore Ludwig van and follow his own tempo. I personally don't think that tempo matters so much as a passion for the music.

I have had Solti's Chicago 9th record which I enjoyed, but the speed and choral subtleties are what I consider superior to Solti, yet I like Xian's interpretation. Nevertheless I will hear Barenboim's version and compare what the fuss is all about

51:55 damn my good sis happy asf 😭😭😭😭

OMG what did the choir do at 59:00 ??? Nobody else noticed that? I'm still trying to understand what happened... *Update* Maybe I got it. I'm pretty sure at 58:50 the conductor gives the cue to the choir two bars early. Indeed you can here a few choristers starting there, a few more starting two bars later (right where they should have), but then for some mysterious reason by 59:00 most of the choir ends up one bar late... I mean, shit happens to everybody, but missing the cue by two bars is a hell of a mistake for such an experienced conductor... That said, a more experienced choir would have probably corrected the conductor. *Update2* Oh anyway: very enjoyable performance and well conducted, overall. And all the fuss about the tempi is ridiculous, I've heard even faster performances.

Chinese lead. Great times we live in. Clockwork Orange not forgotten. :-) I enjoyed heavily. Great performance.

Was the climactic tutti heavy on the higher voices?

Thank you Xian Zhang for this performance of guiding the orchestra.

I like the way Xian Zhang conducts and it is enjoyable to watch her conducting!

Wonderful performance and exhilarating conducting!!! We loved it and our seats were phenomenal. What true passion!

THRILLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bit too quick for my taste. Particularly in the opening sequence Zhang should keep the slower pitch to allow solemn drama to emerge mysteriously. But overall speaking I see spark in her performance. Btw, lousy camera work in the last note, why zoom out ? Why can't we see the close up of conductor's facial expression instead ?

Me parece que es una interpretación sobrecargada de energía todo el tiempo. No da tregua ni respiro. No sirve. Son fuegos artificiales chinos. Eso no es alemán. Es cualquier cosa.

I had to stop this performance just to say that each and every vocal leads here performed the most outrageous levels of talent and skill shown here... I know every one of the renditions of this symphony that you can access on youtube, (wow that sounds depressing in a sense) and this is INSTANTLY my new favorite. The CLARITY of the vocals - there must be some sort of new audio recording setup because the moment Alexander starts his performance i was FLOORED by the audio quality, both of his performance and of the recording setup. That guy can just sustain for days at the most unbelievable power levels... The pace is FANTASTIC, and if I understand things correctly, modern Beethoven examinations have often suggested a more lively performance than was previously in fashion over the centuries. Sorry i'll show myself out Simon was in the previous performance by Paavo Jarvi - wonderful conductor btw who does what i'd feel perfectly happy calling the now-second-best set of Beethoven symphonies with this orchestra in Germany btw - Each individual aspect of this performance would be remarkable enough, but when it comes together, its bliss.

What is inacceptable?

My favourite interpretation! The orchestra and chorus is well led by the conductor!

The fastest version I have ever heard!!

糟糕的、搶拍的男高音 定音鼓的音色也很糟

Que beleza!!! isso que é música...

Gihigugma ko ikaw akong suod nga mga higala

Rest In Peace to Erin Wall 🎼

Thank you so much for this upload - absolutely brilliant !

What a ... different version.

Fantastic sound engineering

Alle Menschen werden Brüder wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt - Schiller's message shouldn't be forgotten, especially in these days.

mordern day Geogre szell

Freunde, nicht diese Töne!

Soloists still not convincing...

Bliss...

Is there anything better than this piece? Could anyone give me suggestions? Thank you,

51:34 Freude schöner Götterfunken...

I was singing along and felt breathless... were they in a hurry or what LOL

51:57 skip everything else and just listen to this part.

Poor choir was so behind at 58:58.

what whas that at 59.0 o.O

Definetely prefer Furtwangler .

interesting 🤔😰🏃🏃🏇🏇

Sorry, this won't replace the 2012 version for me

Pretty darn good!

Xian Zhang!, she is amazing! I love this woman!!!

Xian Zhang is a major conducting star internationally on her way up to the top small group now.

48:49 - 48:51

45:29

Is this available in a CD? Very interesting and fresh interpretation

Maestro Zhang!

Too fast. Compare this with Barenboim's in the same venue.

It's a shame that the mixing console operator was asleep as the tenor entered his solo!!! Everything else pretty much impressive and nice!

Too fast

Beethoven's Symphony No 9 is a powerful piece of music ... but, having mostly heard it performed at the slower tempo, especially by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, this performance did seem "rushed" to me. It may be because I'm "used" to the more "romantic" pace. But nevertheless, the faster pace seems noisy, especially during the Choral portions. "Too much SPICE! Too much .. eh ... too many notes!" - Count Orsini-Rosenberg, Amadeus movie.

Still a thumbs-up from me, but why so darned fast? Now I have to go watch paint dry to slow my soul down.

Th. May: "After the Brexit only British music will be performed in Britain. No more Beethoven."

This is orchestra is full of very peculiar individuals.

The tempo is too fast -,- My score for this performance : 7.1 of 10 And I think, Daniel Barenboim performance from BBC Proms 2012 still the best Symphony No.9 i've ever heard

Hilarious,,,,,,,,,,,,leave this career to men please.

wow so many mistakes. get it together

No todos pueden con la novena sinfonía