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

Conducted by Hisham Gabr, the performance of the symphony combined 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 evening will also include Borodin's Polovtsian Dances from the composer's opera Prince Igor.

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.

Ahram Online followed the making of the performance at Bibliotheca Alexandrina, from the rehearsals to the concert that took place on Saturday 26 November.

Photos: Butheina Shalan