On 9/9, we share with you Leonard Bernstein’s examination of the superstition surrounding “Ninth” symphonies. What's your favorite Ninth? In an introductory trailer to his Dmitri Shostakovich 9th Symphony performance with the Vienna Philharmonic / Wiener Philharmoniker, distributed by Deutsche Grammophon, Bernstein explains how Shostakovich “thumbed his nose” at the tradition of Ninth symphonies of the great composers. "The mystique of the number nine exerted itself in an odd way, so typical of

On this day in 1799, Haydn's "The Creation" received its premiere at the Burgtheater in Vienna with 120 instrumentalists complemented by a substantial all-male choir. Within a few years the oratorio, which depicts and celebrates the creation of the world as described in the Book of Genesis, was acclaimed throughout Europe. "In the beginning of this awesome musical version, Haydn created one of the supreme music dramatizations of all time: 'The Depiction of Chaos,' as he entitled it - that pre-te

On Christmas Day, 1955, the CBS Television Network broadcast an Omnibus program in which Leonard Bernstein conducted the Symphony of the Air and Schola Cantorum in Handel's "Messiah." Enjoy this excerpt of baritone William Warfield singing "But who may abide the day of His coming" from the program. | Leonard Bernstein