(Winter Season)
Sylvia Fisher (soprano) Mary Jarred (contralto)
Richard Lewis (tenor)
Norman Walker (baritone)
Royal Choral Society
BBC Symphony Orchestra
(Leader, Paul Beard )
Conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent
From the Royal Albert Hall. London
' Symphony with final chorus on Schiller's Ode to Joy ' is the full title of Beethoven's Ninth. The first movement begins mysteriously, the music seems to be conjured up out of the void, and when the chief theme makes its appearance its aspect is stern and uncompromismg. There are wonderfully expressive passages, but the movement as a whole has a gaunt, sombre character. Vigorous and explosive is the Scherzo that follows, in which the drums play an important part. After it the Adagio falls on the ear like a benediction. When it has died away there is a furious outburst on the part of the wind instruments and drums. The cellos and basses break in with an appeal, only to be met by another outburst. Leading ideas from the. previous movements are then recalled, but the cellos and basses intervene again, and there steals ;n a fragment of the melody to which Schiller's Ode is set. This receives a welcome from the rest of the orchestra, and the tune is heard in full. But the ' Spirit that denies ' makes its presence felt for the last time. The bass soloist protests, whereupon the Ode begins in earnest. Its exultant strains express the belief that in spite of differences of class, race, and creed, ' all mankind are brothers plighted,' and over them ‘dwells a loving Father.' Harold Rutland