Sydney Symphony Orchestra Performs Global Concert With Beethoven's Greatest Work

Continuing the Sydney Symphony Orchestra's commitment to sharing beautiful music as widely as possible, Australia's premier orchestra will present a free global livestream of its Beethoven Nine concert on Saturday 27 October - 2.45pm, direct from the iconic Sydney Opera House.

In collaboration with ABC Classic FM, Sydney Olympic Park and the State Library of New South Wales, and with the support of Optus, the concert will be broadcast live on the Sydney Symphony Orchestra's website and feature the second half of the concert, showcasing Beethoven's choral symphony, Symphony No.9, with its instantly recognisable "Ode to Joy" theme.

Sydney Symphony Orchestra Chief Executive Officer, Emma Dunch, says that the Orchestra is excited to be able to share the Beethoven Nine concert with people beyond the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall.

"The Sydney Symphony Orchestra is passionate about removing barriers and sharing music as widely as possible - this is at the core of everything that we do," says Dunch.

"Through technology and with the support of our partners, we're able to share music in a way that not too long ago, wouldn't have been possible. We believe that music should be for everyone. The free livestream will enable people to join the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, no matter where they are, as we perform one of Beethoven's greatest works."

With the support of the State Library of New South Wales, communities in regional New South Wales will be able to witness the Sydney Symphony Orchestra perform Beethoven's epic work. Libraries from across New South Wales will broadcast the Sydney Symphony Orchestra livestream, providing a central point for regional communities to gather and experience the concert alongside audience in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. Participating libraries include Wollongong City Libraries, Armidale Library, Hornsby Library, Cessnock City Library, Tamworth City Library, Parkes Library, Woollahra Library and Port Macquarie Library.

People will also be able to join in through the following ways:

• ABC Classic FM will simultaneously broadcast the full concert audio to audiences in Australia and around the world. Margaret Throsby will present the Classic Live broadcast direct from the Sydney Opera House at 2pm.
• Sydney Olympic Park will screen a delayed broadcast of the livestream at Cathy Freeman Park at 4.30pm on giant screen. The Beethoven Nine concert broadcast will be shown prior to the closing ceremony celebrations for the 2018 Invictus Games, which will be aired at 6.30pm, reflecting the spirit of the sporting event with the symphony's theme of the unconquerable human spirit in the face of adversity.

In June 2018, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra led Australia's flagship event in international Make Music Day with a livestream of its Verdi's Requiem concert. An annual celebration of music, Make Music Day is a global event involving 800 cities in 120 countries. Alongside the audience in the Concert Hall, the livestream was watched simultaneously by people in 41 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States and France.

Often hailed as Beethoven's greatest work, Symphony No.9 will be led by former Sydney Symphony Orchestra Chief Conductor Edo de Waart. American soprano, Amanda Majeski, will make her Australian debut performing alongside Caitlin Hulcup (mezzo-soprano), Kim Begley (tenor) and the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. The full Beethoven Nine concert will include Haydn's Symphony No.104 (London) and will be performed on Thursday 25 October (1.30pm), Friday 26 October (8pm) and Saturday 27 October (2pm) with limited tickets still available.