Beethoven's Ninth

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Who hasn't been stirred by the strains of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony? Esteban Buch explores the complex history of this iconic piece, embraced by diverse groups from German nationalists to French republicans, communists, and Catholics. Its performances have marked significant historical events, such as Leonard Bernstein's concert celebrating the fall of the Berlin Wall, while also serving as a haunting motif in Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange. The symphony was even used by Hitler for his birthdays and adopted as an anthem by the Rhodesian government. Furthermore, it echoed in German concentration camps and was featured prominently at Mitterrand's 1981 investiture. Buch traces the contradictory uses and abuses of Beethoven's Ninth since its premiere in 1824. He reveals that Beethoven intentionally drew on the tradition of European political music, blending sacred and profane themes. While he had his own aspirations for the piece, aiming to convey a message about ideal power, he could not foresee the varied political interpretations—both nationalist and universalist—that would emerge. Through nearly two centuries, Buch examines how the symphony has been "deployed," offering a profound exploration of the moral value of art. This sensitive account reveals the evolving life of an artwork as it intertwines with the currents of history.