When thinking about the largest-scale performance, it’s hard not to be awestruck by the sheer magnitude of some live shows. From massive stadium concerts to breathtaking festivals, there’s something truly extraordinary about the energy and spectacle these performances create.
Every December since 1983, an extraordinary event takes place in Japan: a choir of 10,000 voices unites to perform the powerful choral finale of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. With an orchestra accompanying them, the scale of this performance is nothing short of monumental.
The video, filmed in December 2011, showcases the energy and grandeur of the event under the direction of Yutaka Sado, who has conducted the choir since 1999. Sado, a renowned Japanese conductor trained by Seiji Ozawa and Leonard Bernstein, has been the Music Director of Austria’s Tonkünstler Orchestra since 2015.
This collaboration of voices and musicians continues to leave audiences in awe with its sheer scale and emotional impact. After being uploaded on YouTube, it has hit over 14 million views and received countless positive feedback.
One viewer online commented, “Holy crap, imagine being in that building hearing 10000 people sing perfectly in sync at once. That would be amazing..” Moreover, many were impressed by the impact of Beethoven as one wrote, “Beethoven died 191 years ago and there are 10,000 Japanese people singing one of his works… ain’t he an amazing human?”
Many might not notice that In Japan, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony has become a cherished part of the holiday season. During Christmas time, the iconic piece is performed in shopping malls, community centers, and concert halls across the country.
A favorite moment in these performances is the choral “Ode to Joy,” where audiences often join in for a sing-along. This uplifting section, filled with themes of peace, hope, and joy, is set to lyrics from a 1785 poem by Friedrich Schiller.
One of the most moving traditions is the annual performance of the “Ode to Joy” by over 10,000 singers, an event that captures the spirit of unity and celebration.