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| 10,000 Japanese Voices Singing "Ode to Joy" in German |
BONKERS FOR BEETHOVEN’S 9TH—To celebrate Beethoven, the holidays and the
maestro’s 242nd birthday, 10,000 Japanese jammed into an Osaka
stadium to sing Ode an die Freude/Ode to Joy.
Thanks to YouTube that
event is viewable. It was recorded in
late December 2011.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paH0V6JLxSI
CBS’ Lucy Craft reports, “Beethoven's
Ninth is so beloved in Japan, it's known affectionately as daiku-- which means #9.”
The Beethoven craze began,
strangely enough, during World War I, when German soldiers being held as
prisoners in Japan staged a performance of #9, said Craft. By the mid-20th century, #9 had become a
holiday hit.
Performed and sung all
through the month, from concert halls to department stores, #9 is now a
welcome, if predictable, gig for musicians, and conductors. "I have done
(this) more than 150 times," said conductor Yutaka Sado, who recently
conducted the 10,000 person chorus.
Source: CBS News via YouTube and perhaps by Schroeder.
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