Ode To Joy

Heaven was brought to earth on Saturday evening. I will see the Ninth live whenever I can.

While I was seated in the orchestra section, last row, I thought that the acoustics were very nice. I did not like that late-comers were seated throughout the performance. This was quite distracting to me. The Handel Ode to St. Cecilia was played with so much emotion and feeling, led by Matthew Halls that I was truly amazed. I've heard many recordings before but this performance was truly a once in a lifetime experience. Many kudos to the trumpet soloist. I also enjoyed the lyrics presented on the overhead screen, it was nice to follow the theme throughout Handel's piece. Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 is always awe-inspiring to me. Seeing Helmuth Rilling direct this purely from memory, experience and feeling was surreal. With the size of the orchestra, the choir and the acoustics, it seemed that the french horns were having a difficult time keeping up throughout the symphony though. Soloists, choirs, everything was totally out of this world and it is obvious that this symphony has been used to inspire and commemorate so many huge events. This performance was inspirational.

Stunning performance. At last I was able to hear live one of my favorite records. Very cohesive and spirited playing of a monumental work. It was especially thrilling to be able to experience the choral version. It gave a taste of what angelic choruses must be like.

Great in every respect; very moving. The chorus was particularly good.

Coral and orchestra are best together. Totally enjoyable evening of powerful music. Powerful and sweet. Sensitive and overwhelming. Great stuff.

Awesome performance by the Oregon Back Festival of both Ode to Cecelia and Ode to Joy. Beethoven's 9th was an unforgettable experience and should be on everyone's bucket list. Thank you to all the performers and the conductors!

This was a fantastic concert, one of the best i've ever attended in Portland. The soloists were sublime and Helmuth rilling is world class.

Beautiful and engaging performance. Left the audience completely still and then dancing in their seats for the Ode to Joy's big crescendo. Would have liked for the Ode to come first in the evening, but worth the wait.

The celo and vocal duet from the Handel piece. Amazing. And of course, the 9th was amazing all the way through.

Outstanding and dynamic performance, especially Beethoven Symphony No. 9. Memorable .

My first exposure to Handel's St Cecelia, and it was a pleasure. The instruments and the verses were paired in wonderful harmony. The message was that music was the treasure of our lives----I could have told them that! Beethoven's Ninth was as crisp and clear as I have ever heard it. The chorus from Venezuela was excellent----so polished and clear. It was great to see such a large audience enjoying something so wonderful.

Both pieces, Handel's Ode to St. Cecelia and Beethvoven's Ninth Symphony, were absolutely superior. I have seen the Ninth staged several places, but Helmuth Rilling produced by far the best performance of it I have ever seen. Both the Baroque and Symphony orchestras were stunning. I believe the conductor's had an almost unparalled ability to coax the best from their groups.

I don't know anyone who doesn't love this symphony. It is more than a "classic." It is an icon of rapturous music. The soloists were very good. For me, the best voice was the soprano's, but I preferred watching the tenor, because his face reflected his love of the music. I do have a criticism, and coming as it does from an amateur music afficienado, may seem pretentious, however, I would have preferred a faster second movement. The tempo just wasn't quick enough for me. It dragged. On the other hand, I thought the first movement was brilliantly presented. In reading Wikipedia on Beethoven, I found this: "He was also a pivotal figure in the transition from the 18th century musical classicism to 19th century romanticism...." Helmuth Rilling certainly captured the feeling of the romantic period for me in his interpretation of the first movement. The concert opened with Matthew Halls conducting Handel's Ode on St. Cecilia's Day, which I enjoyed very much.