Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 is so massive, we can't fit it all into one hour. Today, we start wrapping up our series on Christoph Eschenbach, Beethoven and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Before 1824, no symphony had included a chorus. And in Beethoven’s Ninth, it comes out of nowhere. The first three movements are purely instrumental, and the finale starts in a similar vein.

The BSO, Tanglewood Festival Chorus and conductor Michael Tilson Thomas perform Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 at Tanglewood. (Courtesy Hilary Scott) This article is more than 2 years old.