Beethoven's Ninth Symphony is Joy itself, a testament to belief in a God beyond the stars, transcendence through Joy, her embrace of the brotherhood of man. Make that the love among all people.
Last night's performance was not the best I've heard. At times muddled, lacking the joy one ought to feel on hearing the 4th movement, it managed nonetheless to rouse the audience to an ecstasy of adoration. The chorus was wonderful.
This morning I watched, heard, a few of the magnificent performances of the 4th movement by European orchestras that confirmed my impression from the Atlanta rendition.
The concept of God as Joy, as the love among friends and lovers on a universal scale, has always come close to helping me comprehend what God is to great artists.
--Jack
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