The production "Beethoven 9" is a musical event with a special radiance: the Philharmonia Frankfurt, four vocal soloists and the Bern Bach Choir with over 120 singers bring Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, to the stage - a work that is still considered a milestone in classical music today and has hardly lost any of its popularity. In January 2026 in Bern (4.1.), Basel (6.1.) and St. Gallen (7.1.).
Ludwig van Beethoven, born in Bonn in 1770, was often referred to as the "first pop star in music history". His unique popularity, his unbridled temperament and his tragic fate made him a composer who pushed the boundaries of his time. Beethoven revolutionized the musical form of the symphony in particular and expanded it decisively.
The famous Ninth Symphony is his last completed symphonic work - and set new standards even at its premiere. For the first time, human voices were added to the symphonic sound: A large orchestra, choir and four soloists present Schiller's "Ode to Joy" and give posterity Beethoven's most important message of musical solidarity. The premiere took place on May 7, 1824 in Vienna under Beethoven's direction, although the composer was almost deaf at the time and probably never heard the work in its entirety.
The main theme of the last movement later became the European anthem - the Council of Europe and the European Community declared "Freude schöner Götterfunken" to be the anthem of an entire continent. The musical and cultural significance of this work remains unparalleled to this day.
The concert evening will be complemented by Beethoven's 3rd Piano Concerto in C minor, Op. 37, which was composed between 1800 and 1803 and premiered by the composer himself in Vienna on April 5, 1803. An interesting detail: Beethoven is said to have hardly used any sheet music during the performance - his friend Ignaz von Seyfried later reported "purely incomprehensible Egyptian hieroglyphics" on the sheet music.
Beethoven's third piano concerto is the only one of its kind in a minor key and has a particularly pronounced symphonic character and creative power; it is still one of the most frequently performed concertos in the world today.
"Beethoven 9" combines tradition, innovation and artistic skill and promises to be an extraordinary highlight of the 2026 concert season. Beethoven's monumental 9th Symphony will be performed three times in Switzerland at the beginning of January 2026: the first performance will be on January 4 at 5 pm at the Casino Bern, followed by a concert on January 6 at 7.30 pm at the Stadtcasino Basel, before the tour comes to a festive conclusion on January 7 at 7.30 pm at the Tonhalle St. Gallen.