Le Concert des Nations / Jordi Savall

Free of pathos

Despite undoubtedly being a great work, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony is often overworked. From New Year’s Eve celebrations and concert hall openings to the G20 Summit – »Joy, beautiful spark of divinity« is always expected to come up with the goods. If anyone can trim away some of the slick pathos that often smothers this piece, it’s Jordi Savall, viola da gamba virtuoso and icon of historical performance practice. Together with his chamber orchestra Le Concert des Nations and the Carl-Philipp-Emanuel-Bach-Chor Hamburg, he now celebrates the »Ninth«. We can’t wait to see what the meticulous musicologist coaxes out of the ostensibly well-known score.