On Saturday, 26 November, one of the greatest classical music works, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No 9 (The Choral Symphony) will be performed by the artistic forces of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

Conducted by Hisham Gabr, the performance of the symphony will combine the BA Chamber Orchestra, BA Youth Orchestra, BA Symphonic Choir and soloists soprano Mona Rafla (Egypt), alto Rodica Ocheseanu (Romania), tenor Khalil Saeed (Tunisia) and baritone Haithem Hadhiri (Tunisia).

The Symphony No 9 is Beethoven's last completed symphony and one of the best-known works of classical music, included in the Memory of the World International Register compiled by UNESCO as the greatest testimonies of human history.

The great pinnacle of Beethoven’s greatness, the work is admired by musicians and music lovers alike, mainly due to the final cantata that comes in its last, fourth movement, Ode to Joy sung to the poem by Friedrich von Schiller.

The symphony premiered 7 May 1824 in Vienna. Because of his deafness, Beethoven stood behind the conductor, with his back to the audience and at first did not see the standing ovation and the audience who, according to witnesses at the time, asked the composer to the stage five times.

The evening will also include Borodin's Polovtsian Dances from the composer's opera Prince Igor.

Programme:
Saturday, 26 November, 7pm
Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Great Hall, Alexandria

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