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Season Concert

Beethoven’s Ode to Joy - Celebrating 50 Years

featuring
Katie Van Kooten, soprano
Ibidunni Ojikutu, mezzosoprano
Richard Hodges, baritone
October 5, 2025
3:00 pm
Mount Baker Theatre

Program*

Ludwig van Beethoven | Symphony No. 9 “Ode to Joy” (70’)

Running time is 70 minutes

Experience the power and grandeur of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 live in concert! This masterpiece, featuring the triumphant “Ode to Joy,” brings together the BSO Orchestra, the new BSO Chorus, and incredible soloists soprano Katie Van Kooten, mezzo soprano Ibidunni Ojikutu, and baritone Richard Hodges for an unforgettable afternoon of music.

Tickets start at just $15. Check out our ticket discounts page for information on FREE Orchestra for All tickets.

Of Note

Beethoven was deaf when he premiered the 9th symphony. When he felt the rumble of the crowd, Beethoven thought his work was being booed. His friends rushed to turn him around to see, in fact, the audience was applauding uproariously. 

This will be the first performance of the BSO Chorus led by Dr. Mabalot.

Ode to Joy is considered to be the earliest musical seed of what we now call pop music.

Ode to Joy was inspired by a poem Beethoven read at 15. Schiller’s “Ode to Joy” was at heart an ode to freedom — a blazing manifesto for the Enlightenment ethos. 


Discover More

WATCH Leonard Bernstein 1989 Christmas “Ode to Freedom” When the Berlin wall comes down. 

WATCH Flashmob Flash Mob - Ode an die Freude ( Ode to Joy ) Beethoven Symphony No.9 classical music

WATCH Beethoven's Greatest Work... Explained

Experience Music LIVE - there's nothing like it!

Joins us for an engaging and informative Pre-Concert Talk with Dr. McKenna Milici.

Have a little one in your life that loves music? Join us for Classical Kids at our dress rehearsals. Learn more and sign up here.

First time at the Symphony? Check out our Concert FAQs to find out more about how we share the joy of LIVE music.

*All programs subject to change