Beethoven’s Ninth by Heart, Wednesday 21 August at 7.30pm at the Royal Albert Hall, live on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds, and recorded for broadcast on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer
Aurora Orchestra marks the 200th anniversary of the premiere of Beethoven’s monumental ninth symphony with a signature ‘Orchestral Theatre’ introduction and memorised performance at the BBC Proms, exploring the composer’s journey as he wrote the work whilst in the midst of hearing loss, illness and personal tragedy.
Principal Conductor Nicholas Collon will be joined by deaf actor Rhiannon May and Actor/BSL Interpreter Thomas Simper alongside the BBC Singers, the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, and soloists Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, Brenden Gunnell and Christopher Purves for a specially-conceived introduction to the symphony – exploring the story of its creation and illuminating its musical content – before the full work is performed by memory.
Written just four years before he died, Beethoven’s ninth and final symphony is his most ambitious: an epic musical vision of humanity united that has continued to resonate powerfully for the past two centuries. Harnessing the full potential of an orchestra performing without sheet music, Aurora’s introduction will utilise text, movement and lighting to explore how Beethoven wrote the piece, re-creating some of the events leading up to its premiere in 1824.
Conceived and written by Aurora’s Creative Director Jane Mitchell, the new presentation draws on conversations documented in Beethoven’s notebooks as he communicated with friends and acquaintances whilst living with profound hearing loss. Recently published in a new translation by music historian Theodore Albrecht, these ‘Conversation Books’ provide a detailed and honest window into Beethoven’s daily life – from shopping lists to insights into his composing – documented in text written down by his interlocutors so that he could understand them. Rhiannon May will portray the role of Beethoven and Thomas Simper those in his life at the time, reading excerpts of text and using British Sign Language, whilst Collon and the Aurora musicians show how the music is built and developed.
Rhiannon May said: ‘I’m really looking forward to being part of the Proms this summer, working with Aurora Orchestra on Beethoven’s Ninth by Heart. It’s been so interesting to explore Beethoven’s deafness and in particular his conversation books, seeing the clear parallels in the way deaf people communicate today. Music can transcend just sound and using Beethoven’s Ninth is a powerful reminder of that.’
Jane Mitchell, Creative Director, Aurora Orchestra said: “It has been absolutely fascinating getting to know Beethoven through his conversation books. They are such a unique source because they have no filter – every person who writes in the books is noting their immediate thoughts so it feels like we are overhearing conversations directly from the past. The more I’ve been drawn into Beethoven’s world the more I’ve been struck by how extraordinary it is that someone who was finding every day life so difficult and full of struggle chose to celebrate joy in his final symphony. We are so looking to telling this story at the Proms this summer.”
As with all Proms, the Beethoven’s Ninth by Heart will be broadcast live on Radio 3 and available on BBC Sounds. The performance will also be recorded for future broadcast on BBC Four, presented by Linton Stephens. Please note seated tickets to this performance are now sold out. As with all Proms, £8 Promming tickets will be available on the day.