Special exhibition “The Way of the Ninth – from Baden to the world”

Notice in 1824 ©Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz

Based on two letters written by Beethoven in Baden in September 1823, this small special exhibition shows the significance of the Ninth from its premiere to the present day. The letters that the Beethovenhaus-Bonn is making available to the city of Baden for the exhibition document the international significance and networking of the Beethovenhaus Baden.

From the program of the world premiere at the Kärntnerthortheater and the first printed score to Leonard Bernstein’s legendary concert in 1989. Books and graphics show the representation and reception not only in music, but also in literature, science and the visual arts.

Depictions of allegorical figures that illustrate the text of the  Ode “To Joy” in the 4th movement can be seen as well as caricatures that can be interpreted musically, but also politically. The visual language of the numerous record covers, which illustrate the realization of the Ninth with all the important conductors and orchestras, is remarkable. Several objects are dedicated to the history of the performance, including the first performance in Baden in 1910 and the performance by German prisoners in the Bando prison camp in Japan in 1918.

The Ninth took on a special significance as the European anthem. As an exhibited letter documents, Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi, founder of the Pan-European Union, proposed the Ode to Joy as the European anthem as early as 1955. In 1985, it was adopted by the EU heads of state and government as the official anthem of the European Union: “Without words, only in the universal language of music, it expresses the European values of freedom, peace and solidarity”[1].

Events such as the concert “Ode to Freedom” in Berlin on 25 December 1989 symbolize the importance of Beethoven’s music. Leonhard Bernstein conducted musicians from both parts of the now reunited Germany, from America, the former Soviet Union, France and Great Britain.

To this day, the 9th Symphony, part of which originated in Baden, moves people all over the world.

[1] https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/symbols/european-anthem_de