The Ninth Symphony is traditionally performed throughout Japan at the end of the year. In December 2009, for example, there were 55 performances of the symphony by various major orchestras and choirs in Japan. [86] It was introduced to Japan during World War I by German prisoners held at the Bandō prisoner-of-war camp. [87] Japanese orchestras, notably the NHK Symphony Orchestra, began performing the symphony in 1925 and during World War II; the Imperial government promoted performances of the symphony, including on New Year's Eve. In an effort to capitalize on its popularity, orchestras and choruses undergoing economic hard times during Japan's reconstruction performed the piece at year's end. In the 1960s, these year-end performances of the symphony became more widespread, and included the participation of local choirs and orchestras, firmly establishing a tradition that continues today. Some of these performances feature massed choirs of up to 10,000 singers. [88] [87] Boyd, Phoebe-Jane (23 April 2015). "Inside No. 9 series 2 episode 2 review: The 12 Days Of Christine". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on 5 April 2015 . Retrieved 3 April 2015. a b c "Star-studded cast joins Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton for Inside No. 9 series eight and first look image is released". BBC Media Centre. 27 January 2023. Leonard Bernstein conducted a version of the Ninth Symphony at the Konzerthaus Berlin with Freiheit (Freedom) replacing Freude (Joy), to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall during Christmas of 1989. [62] This concert was performed by an orchestra and chorus made up of many nationalities: from East and West Germany, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, the Chorus of the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, and members of the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, the Philharmonischer Kinderchor Dresden (Philharmonic Children's Choir Dresden); from the Soviet Union, members of the orchestra of the Kirov Theatre; from the United Kingdom, members of the London Symphony Orchestra; from the US, members of the New York Philharmonic; and from France, members of the Orchestre de Paris. Soloists were June Anderson, soprano, Sarah Walker, mezzo-soprano, Klaus König, tenor, and Jan-Hendrik Rootering, bass. [63] This was Bernstein's final performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony; he died less than a year later, in October 1990. a b Service, Tom (9 September 2014). "Symphony guide: Beethoven's Ninth ('Choral')". The Guardian. the central artwork of Western music, the symphony to end all symphonies

a b "Comedy.co.uk Awards 2018 winners revealed". British Comedy Guide. 3 February 2019. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020 . Retrieved 13 February 2020. a b c d Cohn, Richard L. (1992). "The Dramatization of Hypermetric Conflicts in the Scherzo of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony". 19th-Century Music. 15 (3): 188–206. doi: 10.2307/746424. ISSN 0148-2076. JSTOR 746424 . Retrieved 6 October 2021. Portrait of Beethoven in 1824, the year his Ninth Symphony was premiered. He was almost completely deaf by the time of its composition. Caroline Unger, who sang the contralto part at the first performance and is credited with turning Beethoven to face the applauding audienceThe 100 best TV shows of the 21st century". The Guardian. 16 September 2019. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019 . Retrieved 23 September 2019. Walker-Arnott, Ellie (18 June 2014). "Doctor Who wins best TV series at the Freesat Awards". Radio Times . Retrieved 19 June 2014. The opening, with its perfect fifth quietly emerging, resembles the sound of an orchestra tuning up. [35] Segal, Victoria; Raeside, Julia (26 April 2015). "Choice; Wednesday 29 April". Culture, The Sunday Times. pp.56–7.

a b Parker, Robin (6 February 2014). "Inside No. 9 debuts with 1.1m". Broadcast. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014 . Retrieved 6 February 2014. (subscription required) Naxos (2006). "Ode To Freedom – Beethoven: Symphony No. 9". Naxos.com Classical Music Catalogue . Retrieved 26 November 2006. a b Billen, Andrew (20 February 2014). "Last night's TV: First Dates". The Times. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014 . Retrieved 21 February 2014. (subscription required) https://www.wqxr.org/story/2021-classical-countdown/ N. B. Links to previous years' countdowns can be found at the link in the reference. Pemberton, Steve; Shearsmith, Reece (4 May 2015). Behind the Scenes: "La Couchette". Inside No. 9 Series 2 DVD. BBC.

An important theme in the finale of Johannes Brahms' Symphony No. 1 in C minor is related to the "Ode to Joy" theme from the last movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. When this was pointed out to Brahms, he is reputed to have retorted "Any fool can see that!" Brahms's first symphony was, at times, both praised and derided as "Beethoven's Tenth". Letter of April 1878 in Giuseppe Verdi: Autobiografia delle Lettere, Aldo Oberdorfer ed., Milano, 1941, p. 325. The soprano and alto parts were sung by two famous young singers: Henriette Sontag and Caroline Unger. German soprano Henriette Sontag was 18 years old when Beethoven personally recruited her to perform in the premiere of the Ninth. [16] [17] Also personally recruited by Beethoven, 20-year-old contralto Caroline Unger, a native of Vienna, had gained critical praise in 1821 appearing in Rossini's Tancredi. After performing in Beethoven's 1824 premiere, Unger then found fame in Italy and Paris. Italian composers Donizetti and Bellini were known to have written roles specifically for her voice. [18] Anton Haizinger and Joseph Seipelt sang the tenor and bass/ baritone parts, respectively. Craig, David (27 April 2023). "Inside No. 9 season 8 release date, cast and latest news". Radio Times . Retrieved 30 April 2023. Pemberton, Steve; Shearsmith, Reece (2015). Nana's Party (episode commentary). Steve & Reece IN9 (via SoundCloud). Archived from the original on 3 April 2016 . Retrieved 3 April 2016.

Disparate characters - a widower ( Phil Davis) looking for a partner, a woman ( Maxine Peake) talking to her therapist ( Sara Kestelman), an American serial killer (Pemberton), a young internet celebrity, a terminally ill man (Shearsmith) and a blind woman - talk to the camera, not knowing their lives are about to collide. At about 24 minutes in length, the last movement is the longest of the four movements. Indeed, it is longer than some entire symphonies of the Classical era. Its form has been disputed by musicologists, as Nicholas Cook explains:The translation is taken from the BBC Proms 2013 programme, for a concert held at the Royal Albert Hall ( Prom 38, 11 August 2013). This concert was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and later on BBC4 television on 6 September 2013, where the same translation was used as subtitles.