201 years after the premiere of Beethoven's iconic Ninth Symphony, Belgian composer Annelies Van Parys reflects on its call for brotherhood. In a society that has recently been calling increasingly loudly for armament and defence, Van Parys explores the power of the individual in the face of the loud masses. In doing so, she places Beethoven's masterpiece entirely in the present. "Fantasie" will have its world premiere during theFlanders Symphony Orchestra's Beethoven 9 concert series with chief conductor Kristiina Poska, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and ensemble Revue Blanche.
Alle Menschen werden Brüder?
Annelies Van Parys took the inspiration for "Fantasie" from the fourth movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. With a few references, including the famous “Alle Menschen werden Brüder”, she provides a recognisable nod to Beethoven's most iconic work.
Whereas in recent years it has been mostly staged as a universal symbol of brotherhood and peace, Beethoven's call is even more urgent today. Across Europe, the call to arms is getting louder and louder, and the “us" versus “them" narrative is pushed to the extreme. With "Fantasie", Van Parys raises the question of whether the individual can rise above the crowd, that is increasingly drifting towards violence and polarization. The work presents a personal quest for the power of the individual and the meaning of brotherhood in a world that is deeply divided.
Individual versus masses
Van Parys' choice to perform the work with the ensemble Revue Blanche - a chamber music ensemble versus the large orchestra and choir - reinforces the composition's theme. "It was important for me to musically emphasise the contrast between the small, vulnerable group and the huge crowd. This reflects the tension we feel every day between the personal and the collective, between individuality and collectivism," says the composer. In "Fantasie'" the solo ensemble faces an impressive bevy of about 100 musicians and singers.
Hopeful message for the future
"In these times it is difficult, but with “Fantasie” I wanted, like Beethoven, to give a hopeful message", says the composer. Together with writer Gaea Schoeters, she went in search of what the possibilities are for a hopeful future. Without falling into naive utopian stories and with room for free interpretation by the audience, the creation ends with the message that, as an individual, you can indeed make a difference and we should not be so afraid of “the other”.
