An Anthem to Humanity.

Join the Portsmouth Symphony for the community event of the season. Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (Ode To Joy) is a revered masterpiece that combines the force of a full symphony orchestra, a large scale chorus and four vocal soloists to achieve a monumental effect. First performed in 1824 under the direction of a completely deaf Beethoven, the Ninth Symphony concludes with a choral movement, which pairs Beethoven’s music with Friedrich Schiller’s poem “Ode To Joy.” The piece represents both artists’ plea to their contemporaries for universal brotherhood. Appropriately, this ‘anthem to humanity’ was performed in 1989 in East Berlin to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification of East and West Germany.

The inaugural performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in Portsmouth will feature the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Music Director-Maestro John Page; Portsmouth High School Madrigal Singers, under the direction of Music Director Olin Johannesen; Portsmouth Pro Musica, under the direction of Founder and Music Director Priscilla Stevens French; Amare Cantare, under the direction of Music Director-Dr. Catherine Beller-McKenna; St. John’s Episcopal Church Choir, under the direction of Music Director Dr. Margaret Harper; and professional soloists Soprano Amal El-Shrafi, Mezzo-soprano Deborah Rentz-Moore, Tenor Charles Blandy and Baritone Bradford Gleim.

The concert will kick off with “Prelude to Joy,” a contemporary piece composed to reflect the message of Beethoven’s Ninth and written to feature the voice of Taylor O’Donnell, PSO Artist-in-Residence. Submitted as part of a composition contest held by the PSO and PARMA Recordings, “Prelude to Joy” was composed by PSO French hornist Stephen Blake.

Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind event. Performances March 18, 7:30 pm, and March 19, 3 pm (pre-concert discussion at 2 pm)  Purchase tickets here.