• Tracks

On Christmas Day in 1989, Bernstein-less than a year from death-conducted an incredibly joyous, moving performance of Beethoven's ninth symphony. The performance took place at the site of the newly demolished Berlin Wall and features musicians from both East and West Germany and from the four Occupying Powers (Great Britain, France, Russia and the U.S.). They took Beethoven's beloved "Ode to Joy" and transformed it into a rousing "Ode to Freedom"; marking the event's 30th anniversary (and the 250th birthday of Beethoven), this release comes in two forms: CD, coupled (for the first time) with a DVD of the concert, or on first-time double 180-gram vinyl! Deutsche Grammophon.