Ode to Freedom Beethoven: Symphony No.9 in D
September 2006 Reviewed by: Wes Marshall Format: DVD	(all ratings out of 5): Overall Enjoyment Picture Quality Packaged Extras Sound Quality

The western world changed forever on November 9, 1989, the day a crowd of Germans broke down the Berlin Wall. The people were anxious to re-integrate their country and live in peace. Leonard Bernstein, always a conductor steeped in global issues and willing to wear his heart on his sleeve, decided that the best way to celebrate this victory of freedom was to have the finest players from orchestras in East and West Germany, Russia, England, France and America come together to rejoice and commemorate the fall of Soviet hegemony. His choice of music was inevitable: Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, a work offered to the brotherhood of man.

His concert came together on Christmas Day. Crowds gathered in the streets to be a part of the gala. As the audience entered the concert hall, the first surprise was the children’s choir, Bernstein’s addition to symbolize hope for the future. The second surprise was the change that Bernstein had made to Schiller’s poetry. He had the soloists and choir sing "Freiheit" ("Freedom") instead of "Freude" ("Joy"), effectively changing the fourth movement into a celebration of freedom.

Bernstein bounded onto the podium and set about a most deeply felt and ear-opening performance. At the time, his approach to adagios was to stretch them to near breaking to emphasize their soulfulness and beauty. He once doubled the length of an adagio in Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.6 "Pathetique" [DG 419 861] searching for its essence. At this performance, he takes Beethoven’s sublime adagio, which normally runs about 15 minutes (period specialist Roger Norrington accomplishes his in 11:08!) and coaxes and elongates it almost to the point that it becomes a new piece of music. He lingers on the movement for 20:39, bringing out nuances and felicities we seem to have never heard. It’s as if Bernstein wanted to create a hybrid between Mahler’s big choral symphonies (2, 3 and 8) and Beethoven’s Ninth. The effect is stunning.

Bernstein handles the other movements broadly, but more normally. The orchestra plays as if they knew they were at an event for the ages. Three of the singers handle their parts perfectly. Only soprano June Anderson disappoints, singing at a volume that completely drowns out everything -- orchestra and choirs included. Thankfully, she is only a mild distraction to an otherwise celestial recording.

Ten months after this concert, Leonard Bernstein died at the age of 72. Earlier, in 1986, he spoke to reporters from USA Today: "I was diagnosed with emphysema in my mid-20s and was supposed to be dead by the age of 35. Then they said I'd be dead by 45. Then 55. Well, I beat the rap. I smoke. I drink. I stay up all night. I screw around. I'm overcommitted on all fronts."

Luckily for us, he always found time to make music at the highest possible level, full of heart and intelligence. This DVD is a fine representation of his art.

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