The Choral Symphony of Beethoven did not feature in the repertoire of Dundee Choral Union, and the RSNO very rarely brought the chorus through from Glasgow. However they had given a performance in the Caird Hall as a fitting element of the 800th anniversary celebrations of the Burgh's charter in 1992. It was therefore highly surprising to hear the great work again after less than a decade. Walter Weller may not have produced the level of fizzing excitement that Lazarev did a few months later with the Verdi Requiem, but this was still a thoroughly rewarding performance with an excellent quartet of soloists.
The symphony was not generally considered to constitute a full evening's entertainment. On this occasion it was preceded by the brief Strauss tone poem Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, op28.
Further performance dates to be confirmed.
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