Beethoven's Ode to Joy

Available for over a year

Reflections on the impact of Beethoven's last symphony. John Suchet describes the writing and performing of Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy', while choral conductor Simon Halsey talks about the special difficulties choirs encounter in singing it. Hans Rhieburg tells of the first performance conducted by Leonard Bernstein in East Berlin when the wall came down. Professor Susan Greenfield describes first hearing this work as a depressed student on a rainy Sunday afternoon and how it transformed her world from gloom to joy. Series about music that makes the hairs stand up on the back of our necks. Producer: Sara Conkey First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2000.