Carnegie Hall

Creating music together can be a tremendously joyful act, binding us together in times of celebration and times of hardship. When Beethoven incorporated Friedrich Schiller’s poem “Ode to Joy” into his Ninth Symphony, it was a radical call for equality, freedom, and brotherhood. All Together: A Global Ode to Joy reimagines Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony as a 21st-century call for unity, justice, and empowerment.

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, visionary conductor Marin Alsop will lead performances of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony on six continents with 10 renowned partner orchestras as part of a yearlong global project. Partners will reimagine the concert experience for their communities, presenting newly created music alongside the music of Beethoven and artists from their region. As part of each performance, “Ode to Joy” will be translated into a local language.

Carnegie Hall will present the final concert in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage on December 5, 2020, led by Marin Alsop. Rooted in the vibrancy of New York City and connection to each of the global sites, the concert will feature performers of all ages and guest artists from a wide range of genres, backed by a 250-voice choir made up of singers from across the city. Community songwriters will also compose new music, boldly interpreting the ideas of “Ode to Joy” in response to today’s world. On April 5, 2020, these songwriters will join mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato for All Together: Songs for Joy, a celebratory performance in Zankel Hall.