Ode to Joy - A Symphony for the World

New DW and ZDF/arte documentary “Ode to Joy – A Symphony for the World” completed and soon to be premiered.

After an intense two-year production phase, we are very proud to present the great Beethoven documentary by filmmaker Christian Berger which will have its DW television premiere on 17 December, followed by the ARTE transmission in February 2020. On 4 December, “Ode to Joy – A Symphony for the World” will be previewed by Deutsche Welle in Bonn, accompanied by an exclusive media talk about the film with press representatives.

All over the world, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony continues to exert its unrivalled fascination. The film pinpoints the traces the symphony has left on four continents and offers profound insights into a work in which Beethoven sets out his vision of a utopia for all humankind.

Teodor Currentzis’ rebellious nature and his belief in the great messages that music holds for us have many similarities to Beethoven’s own unswerving non-conformism. For viola player Nicóli Martins, the symphony is a refuge from the brutalities of everyday life in the biggest favela in Sao Paulo. In Barcelona, deaf children are taught by hearing-impaired British musician Paul Whittaker to “feel” the power of this monumental work. Almost 200 years after Beethoven received the commission for his Symphony from the Royal Philharmonic Society in London, that same society has asked Oscar winner Tan Dun to compose a new work, “Choral Project: Nine”. In Osaka, excitement runs high as the date approaches for the traditional performance of the Ninth under star conductor Yutaka Sado with a huge choir of 10,000 voices.

Coproduction Company DW
Coproduction Company ZDF/arte
Director Christian Berger
Composer Ludwig van Beethoven
Production Company sounding images GmbH
Executive Producer Kristian Kähler
Production year 2018-19