On May 7, 1824, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony had its world premiere at the Kärntnertortheater in Vienna. To mark the 200th anniversary, the Theater Museum, together with the Vienna Philharmonic and the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin - Preußischer Kulturbesitz, is presenting Joy, a Shining Divine Spark, the largest selection of important sheets from Beethoven's original score ever to be shown in Austria.

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will perform the concert series as part of the accompanying program: An die Freude (To the Joy)

On three evenings, members of the Vienna Philharmonic will perform chamber music by Ludwig van Beethoven in changing ensembles in the intimate setting of the Eroica Hall. All of the string quartets selected for the cycle An die Freude (To the joy) are closely related to Beethoven's Ninth and their arrangements also correspond to a widespread practice in chamber music making, as also took place at Palais Lobkowitz.

May 15, 2024, 7 p.m.
L. v. Beethoven: String Quartet in A minor, op. 132
Lucas Stratmann, violin
Adela Frasineanu, violin
Benjamin Beck, viola
Bernadette Kehrer, violoncello

May 29, 2024, 7 p.m.
L. v. Beethoven: String Quartet in B flat major, op. 130
L. v. Beethoven: Great Fugue, op. 133
Ekaterina Frolova, violin
Martina Miedl, violin
Benjamin Beck, viola
Peter Somodari, violoncello

June 12, 2024, 7 p.m.
L. v. Beethoven: Two movements of the 6th Symphony in F major, op. 68 in the arrangement for flute and piano by Christian Gottlob August Bergt (1771-1837)
L. v. Beethoven: String Quartet in C sharp minor, op. 131
Yamen Saadi, violin
Thomas Küblböck, violin
Sebastian Führlinger, viola
Peter Somodari, violoncello
Walter Auer, flute
Christoph Traxler, piano